Gutten Erev Shabbos

Read Shmini thoughts here and here. In class today I also discussed the idea of Rav Yaakov Kaminetzky who raises the question of why it's called the eighth day, if really it's the opening day (day one) after seven days of inauguration. His answer (which some students guessed) is that the point here is to stress the importance of preparation, to remind us that the inaugural day was built on the days leading up to it. We discussed this idea and particularly how it relates to Shabbos and the difficult but important idea of Friday being erev Shabbos, as Saturday is Shabbos. We all agreed that there's a rush whether Shabbos start at 4 or 8. And yet. The idea is a profound one - "Mi shetarach be'errev Shabbos yochal beShabbos."

It is not Friday

It will not be Saturday

Shabbos is Shabbos