[Avodah] Why Kasha on Shabbos Shira?

[Richard Wolberg]

On Thu, January 24, 2008 3:04am, Cantor Richard Wolberg wrote:
: 2) Hope you had your Buckwheat last Shabbos:
: There is a custom of eating black buckwheat (kasha) on Shabbos Shira.

Obvious "qasha" on this: why?

It is the custom of Chabad to eat kasha on Shabbat Shirah.

This custom is based on the pasuk: "Hasam gevuleich shalom cheilev  
chitim yasbi'eich" — "He has made peace within your borders; He  
satiated you with the finest of wheat" (Psalms 147:14). Thus, on  
Shabbat Shirah, when we read that Hashem emancipated the Jewish people  
from Egyptian bondage and prepared them to be in their own  
geographical boundaries and also the boundaries of Torah, it is  
customary to eat wheat (buckwheat).
The word "beshalach" is an acronym for the words b'shabbat shira  
l'echol chitim — "On Shabbat Shirah to eat wheat  
(buckwheat)."                           										          Also, some  
have the custom to feed wheat to the birds on Shabbat Shirah.  Here is  
the source and also the reason for the custom of putting out food for  
the birds on Erev Shabbos Shirah.  On Shabbat Shirah, when we read  
about the manna that Hashem provided for the Jewish people, it is  
customary to put out food for the birds on Erev Shabbat as a reward  
for the Kiddush Hashem they brought about.

Alternatively, the Maharal of Prague would instruct the teachers of  
young children to gather their students in the shul yard on Shabbat  
Shira and relate to them the story of Kriat Yam Suf — the splitting of  
the sea. They were also to tell the children that at that time Hashem  
performed a miracle and trees with beautiful fruit grew in the sea  
(see Midrash Rabbah 22:1). When the Jews sang theShirah, the birds  
sang and danced. The Jewish children picked fruits from the trees and  
fed the birds. To commemorate this event, we put out food for the  
birds Erev Shabbat Shirah.

The teachers would give them kasha (buckwheat) to throw to the birds.  
And afterward the Maharal would bless the children and also the  
parents that they should merit to see their children embark on Torah,  
marriage and good deeds.

KT/BR
ri
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