Who is important on Shabbat?

by Danit Ilsar

Kippah, Kiddush Cup, two candlesticks, white table cloth, two loaves of Challah, Challah Cover, a bottle of wine and a Siddur had a loud discussion. Each one of them claimed to be the most important item on the Shabbat table.

The Kippah said in a loud voice: “I am important as I serve as a reminder to everyone that HaShem (God) is above us all.”

“So what!” exclaimed the candlesticks and the candles. “Who do you think you are, compared to us?” “First of all, we announce the beginning of Shabbat. We separate weekdays from the holy day, days of work, from the day of rest. We create the special atmosphere, an atmosphere of peace, calm and serenity. Have you ever seen a nicer image than our two flickering flames? Even they have a special meaning. One tells us to remember Shabbat and the other to keep it. Of course we are the most important here!”

“Light, shmight, what about us? The two of us are most important,” said a challah. “We are made from special flour and shaped in a special way for a special day.”

“Really?” laughed the Kippah, “How can you be so important if just one of you is not enough to make the point?”

“You seem to remember nothing from the Torah, do you?” replied the Challah sending a serious look at the embarrassed Kippah. “When HaShem brought the Jewish people out of Egypt, he sent them food from the sky, called Manna. The Jews simply had to scoop it up and eat it, and it is said that it had the taste of whatever the person desired. On Friday, a double portion of Manna fell, so people wouldn't have to work to collect it on Shabbat. We remind everyone of this miracle by blessing two loaves of challah at the Shabbat meal.

“Big deal” laughed the Challah cover. “If the two of you are more important than I am, why do I cover you? No one can even see that you are there!”

“Oh really,” shrieked the Challah. “Do you have an idea what you are here for? You are just a reminder of the dew that covered the manna and kept it fresh. Does that make you important?”

The bottle of wine couldn’t keep quiet anymore. “It’s all nonsense,” he cried. “How can you be joyful without me, without the wine? I have been mentioned in the Torah again and again on every special occasion. HaShem wants me on the Shabbat table; there is even a special blessing over me, called Kiddush”.

“All these big words,” said the Kippah, blushing again with embarrassment and ignoring the smiles of the challah. “Can you explain please?”

“Of course,” hurried the Wine in reply. “Kiddush means blessing Shabbat to be holy. While reciting the Kiddush we remember HaShem as the creator of the world, as the force that took the Jewish people out of Egypt and as the one who has given us the holy day of Shabbat. So you see? You just can’t do without me! I simply must be there on every Shabbat. I must, I must, I must …”

“And what would you do without me?” laughed the Kiddush cup, known for his sense of humour. “Will you make Abba (father) drink wine with a straw?”

“As much as I am trying,” the Siddur interrupted in a soft voice, “I can’t understand the whole discussion. I have all the prayers and the blessings for Shabbat, do I need to say more?”

“You all think you are so important,” whispered the white tablecloth, “none of you would feel special without me being on the table first!”

The Challah was about to start the discussion all over again when the whole family came in and sat at the table. “I overheard what you were saying” said Imma (mother) with a smile. “You all gave very good reasons for being important. But you know what? None of you is more important than the other. You are all here for only one reason, to welcome our bride, the Shabbat. If not for her, none of you would be there. She brings peace. She brings joy. She brings rest. She brings in the love of HaShem”.

“So Shabbat is the most important of us all, isn’t she?” asked the Kippah.

“Yes she is,” replied Imma, “but she wouldn’t be complete without all of you”.

And so the Kiddush cup, the two candlesticks, the white table cloth, the two loaves of Challah, the Challah Cover, the bottle of wine and the Siddur clapped with delight as the Kippah, smiled with pride for the first time on that day.