The Medresh Rabbah tells us that we are supposed to have good things to eat on Shabbos. Actually, I think most of us are already aware that there is a mitzvah of “Oneg Shabbos”. But why is it that on such a spiritual day we are supposed to be involved in a seemingly mundane action?

The Baal Shem Tov explains this with a mashal: There was a rich king who was grooming his beloved son to a position of power. As part of this “training”, he sent his son on a mission which involved spying on the enemy at the border between the two kingdoms. The enemy had its own spies who soon realized what was going on at the border and captured the king’s son. They brought the young prince to a prison cell and bound him in shackles. The formerly pampered prince was not used to this treatment and became very despondent. Meanwhile, when the king learned of his son’s capture, he spared no effort to locate his son and to prepare a rescue mission. But first, he had his agents smuggle an encoded letter to his son stating that help was on the way. When the prince received this letter, his spirits were instantly lifted. But he caught himself before showing this joy outwardly, for he knew that he was under constant watch by his captors. If they detected a change in his demeanor, they might add further fortifications to the current prison, or they might even move him to a different secret location. The prince did not let his father’s training go unused, and he came up with a plan. Once a week the enemy would take all the prisoners out to the bar to have a drink. Usually the prince would not go because he found the company “foul”. But this time he went and had a few drinks together with the other prisoners. When the enemy guards saw him in his new happy state, they naturally assumed it was because of wine and spirits. But really it was a cover up for the joy that he felt that his father was close to him.

Explains the Baal Shem Tov: We have a soul which for many of us is locked up in a back room an entire week, and on Shabbos we unite with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. In order so that our spirituality should be covered up in the “natural world”, Hashem tells us “Enjoy the physical delights!” so that it will seem that our joy is coming from the physical foods that we eat, while in reality the joy is because our soul is closer to Hashem. Those that are connected to Hashem, know that the food is just a “front” but the real joy of the day is to be in Hashem’s presence.

This past Sunday as I put away my Sukkah and prepared my lulav for burning on Erev Pesach, I had a longing for a Yom Tov – a special connection with Hashem. My only consolation was that I knew that in just another 6 days it would be Shabbos.

I hope that this Shabbos, as we indulge and enjoy, the closeness of Yom Tov should be reawakened within us, giving us the strength to feel connected to Hashem through the long winter nights that are ahead of us. Indulge your soul and enjoy your Shabbos!