Tam and Chacham traveled together and once came to a village on Friday afternoon. As Shabbos began, they sensed the presence in the town of a holy soul radiat­ing great light. The sky was clear and the stars shined brightly as they walked around the village hoping to find the source of that light. As they neared an old house and they saw a bright light coming out of it. They moved closer to an open cracked window and heard a beautiful melody and saw a man dancing round a table. And strangest of all, his wife was seated at the table as he sang and danced. Tam and Chacham walked around the outside of the old house until they came to the door. Seeing that the door was slightly open, they went in and saw the man dancing in so much joy before his wife and Shabbos table, which was covered with good food.

The man sang and danced for a long time until he finally stopped and noticed Tam and Chacham. He welcomed his guests warmly and invited them to join him and his wife for the Shabbos meal.

Chacham asked him, “Why do you sing and dance this way before eating?”

The man simply answered, “Before I eat of the wonderful food my wife so carefully and lovingly prepared for Shabbos, I first stand in front of the table and absorb the food’s spiritual essence.”

“Sometimes I become so happy and moved, that I sing and dance.”

What is the food’s “spiritual essence”? It is its divine aspect. A Jewish mystic meditates on how the food has been created and is being kept in existence (like all created things) every minute by G-d’s will. And a person’s profound realization that G-d has created this food to nourish and provide for him leads him to mystic joy.

Sweet and Savory Salmon

INGREDIENTS

1/3 cup Soy Sauce		1 tablespoon Brown Sugar
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice		2-3 cloves Garlic minced
3 tablespoons Honey or Molasses		1-2 pounds Salmon fillet

DIRECTIONS

Mix all ingredients together

Slice salmon fillet into 2-2 1/2″ pieces

Marinade the salmon for 4-8 hours

Place salmon on a drying rack for 1 hour

Bake at 350º for 10 to 15 minutes

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Maggid (spiritual Storyteller). He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us

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