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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">R' Gil recently posted on Hirhurim :</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"> "R. Yaakov horowitz's latest column quotes a woman who describes the beauty of Shabbos in that it is 1) a time to be with family, 2) a time to unwind and 3) grow closer to God. I believe that only two of these three reasons have support from medieval authorities.<BR>
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R. Sa'adia Ga'on (<I>Emunos Ve-Dei'os</I> 3:2) lists the following logical reasons for Shabbos and holidays, which he believes is generally about obedience to God but has secondary reasons as well</FONT></P>
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<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">to rest from work </FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">to spend time acquiring wisdom </FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">for extended prayer </FONT></LI>
<LI><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">to meet with others to study religion</FONT></LI>
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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">I find it noteworthy that he did not include in his list anything about family gatherings and spending time together. He did add "and other similar things" but I find it farfetched to think he meant spending time with one's family. (Note also his distinction between acquiring wisdom and studying religion, which I think might be sanction for studying philosophy on Shabbos.)<BR>
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The</FONT><I> <FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Sefer Ha-Chinukh</FONT></I><FONT FACE="Times New Roman"> (no. 32) suggests that Shabbos is about strengthening traditional Jewish faith in God and Creation. This may be my ignorance, but I am not aware of any medieval authority who claims that Shabbos is about family bonding <SNIP>."</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">I was listening to a shiur by R' D' Gottlleib (Shomrei Emunah) in which he quoted R'YBS in the 4th volume of the Meosra Journal where he quoted the Yerushalmi in shabbat (1:3) as including shabbat in the din of chetzyo lachem chetzyo lashem (it does exist! The seemingly contradictory psukim are "shabbat hu lashem" and "atzeret lashem elokecha"). R' YBS used this to explain why the Rambam used the language of arvit, shacharit and mincha as the time for shalosh seudot (rather than erev…) - since tfila is the primary lashem it must be balanced by eating - the primary lachem.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">KT</FONT>
<BR><FONT FACE="Times New Roman">Joe Rich<BR>
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