Eishet Chayil: Preparation

“She arises while it is still nighttime, and gives food to her household and a ration to her maidens.” The Holy Ishbitzer (Beit Yaakov, Vaeira 3) teaches that this verse refers to the preparations we make in this world, ‘nighttime’ to provide food for our portion in the World to Come.

The Rekanati (Mei’ah She’arim) speaks of Mitzvot as allowing us to taste the World to Come even in this world. Shabbat is “Mei’ein Olam Habah” – Derived from the World to Come – it is our opportunity to taste the food we have prepared for ourselves in Olam Habah.

Application:
Use Eishet Chayil as a celebration of the opportunities we have, especially Shabbat, to create Olam Habah in this world.