Shabbat Prayers: Mincha: Imrei Emet: The Patriarchs Rejoice

“Abraham would rejoice, Isaac would exalt, Jacob and his children would rest on it.” The midrash teaches us that the verse, “And on the day of your joy,” refers to the Sabbath. The Holy Zohar teaches us that when a person finds joy in his service of God, the patriarchs come to rejoice with them.

The Zohar also teaches that the three Sabbath meals correspond to the three patriarchs who are coming to receive the Sabbath happiness with us. This is especially true when one uses the Sabbath as an opportunity to restore his relationship with God, for Teshuva, for there is no joy greater than that of Teshuva, for it is through this that all of one’s sins are forgiven (Sabbath 119 B).

The verse in Psalms (51:14) says, “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and with a generous spirit sustain me.” The Zohar (Volume II 88a) the Attribute of Justice is canceled on the Sabbath, which provides us with the opportunity to do Teshuva, to find happiness, to bring the patriarchs to join us, and to this we refer when we say, “Abraham would rejoice, Isaac would exalt, Jacob and his children would rest on it.” Imrei Emet