Shabbat Zemiros Give Joy for the Entire Week

"And he encamped before the city"

"During the six days of the week, did you study, work, or travel to bring people back in teshuvah (repentance)? Now that Shabbat has arrived, do nothing but sing to Hashem. This is the meaning of 'Vayichan' (and he encamped)—that Yaakov made a 'chanayah' (an encampment/rest stop) for them. He taught them not to leave their homes on Shabbat: 'Sit on Shabbat, sing on Shabbat!'"

A person is given one day a week to sing to Hashem. When Shabbat arrives, sit with the children, sing with the children, and learn with them. Let the children see what Oneg Shabbat (Shabbat delight) is. This will create such a Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of Hashem's Name) in the world, in all the worlds, and in all the Sefiros (Divine emanations). When a person sings Shabbat songs, it is heard throughout the whole world, in every country, and it awakens the souls to return in teshuvah (repentance). A person sits in his innermost chambers and sings songs to Hashem, and all the souls hear his zemiros (Shabbat songs) and his melodies.

"'And you shall return (v'shavta) to Hashem your God'—sit (teshev) at home and sing Shabbat songs. You will see that the whole world returns in teshuvah (repentance) just from the songs of Shabbat; from the melodies of Shabbat, people will return in teshuvah.

When a person sits on Shabbat and sings Shabbat songs, this is the time when the children receive Yirat Shamayim (fear of Heaven). They see the father sitting calmly, singing and chanting; it brings such goodness to their hearts and such tranquility. This is their entire vitality and their entire joy. Through this, they are not interested in what is happening in the street; they are not interested in the vanities of the street. What does a child need more than this? He needs to see a father smiling and calm, a father singing and playing music. Sit for at least two hours at the Shabbat table and sing—this is the child's vitality for the entire week.

Start being a simple Jew. The minimum for a Jew is zemiros (Shabbat songs); without this, he hasn't even begun to be a Jew. If the child sees that the father does not sing on Shabbat, does not learn with him, and has nothing to do at home, eventually he may go out to 'tarbus ra'ah' (evil culture/a bad path), Heaven forbid. He is not absorbing holiness; he is not absorbing purity.

A person does not realize the power of Shabbat zemiros. With Shabbat zemiros, one can revive the dead, as is told about Rabbi Mordechai who composed the piyut (liturgical poem) 'Mah Yafit u'Mah Na'amt, Ahavah ba'Taanugim' (How beautiful and how pleasant you are, love in delights). His son passed away on Friday night after the lighting of the candles. Rabbi Mordechai asked to place the child in the living room on the sofa so he could hear the zemiros, and he began to sing 'Chai Zakuf Mach' (The Living One raises the lowly), and the son woke up to life! When Shabbat arrives and a person sings all the zemiros, he revitalizes everyone. Everyone is revived, everyone is happy, and everyone is joyful, because the zemiros of Shabbat provide the joy and vitality for the entire week."