Lessons from Rabbi Steinman: Embracing Shabbat with Heart

At the home of the late Rabbi Steinman, it was customary to set the Shabbat table on Thursday night and leave it until Sunday morning.

Rav Tzvi Steinberg shared that one year, Rabbi Steinman visited Be'er Sheva to deliver a talk about the sanctity of Shabbat. The lecture took place on Thursday, and the next day, one of the attendees told Rabbi Steinman that that very evening, after the sermon, he arranged his Shabbat table at home out of love for the mitzvah. Upon hearing this, Rabbi Steinman burst into tears of joy. (Shabbat Kodesh Supplement, Yated Ne'eman, Iyar 5774)

Rav Steinberg also mentioned that whenever he visited Rabbi Steinman on Fridays, the rabbi would give him envelopes to place in the mailbox. Rabbi Steinman emphasized that the letters should only be dropped after 12:30 PM, as this would prevent any concerns that the mail would be sent on Shabbat, since the post office operates only until 12:00 PM on Fridays.

Rabbi Steinman recounted hearing that the "Chidushei HaRim" once asked a maid who worked in the house of the "Noam Elimelech" how the atmosphere of Shabbat eve was in his home. The maid replied, "Like the eve of Yom Kippur." (Rav D.M. Ungerman, "Understanding and Appreciating Shabbat")

Rabbi Steinman made a point to change into special Shabbat clothing, including a kippah and shoes, and he had a unique hat and suit for Shabbat. This was in accordance with the teachings of the *Mishnah Berurah*, Hilchot Shabbat, siman 242, se'if 6. Even when Rabbi Steinman traveled abroad, he ensured to pack all his Shabbat clothes, as he was accustomed to changing every article of clothing when Shabbat arrived, as prescribed in halacha.

On one occasion, Rabbi Steinman was troubled. When his grandson asked what was wrong, the rabbi sadly explained, "I have committed a sin and I need to repent. There’s a halacha that one must inspect their pockets before Shabbat, however, I have separate clothes for Shabbat, so I don’t need to check. But this week, I wore the clothes in the middle of the week, so now I am obligated to check, and I didn’t!" Despite the fact that there was nothing set aside in his pockets,

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