JOSEPH’S GIFT

Shabbat in the Temple was characterized by an extra offering. It is described in this week’s parasha and is known as the Musaf offering. Today, when prayers have replaced the sacrifices, we have a Musaf or additional service on Shabbat.

The Talmud associates the three daily services, Shacharit, Mincha, and Maariv, with the Patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Each of the Patriarchs made a particular point of praying at these times of day. The Zohar makes a connection between the Musaf service and the biblical Joseph. Both words are based on the same root Lehosif, meaning ‘to add.’ Says the Zohar, Joseph, by his very name, personifies the Musaf prayer.

When Joseph was born, his mother, Rachel understood that, at a time of blessing, one has the potential to receive further blessing. She seized the moment and named her son Joseph, to imply ‘May G-d give me an additional son.’

The Zohar applies this dimension to our Shabbat Musaf service. When we recite the Musaf service, we have the potential to open ourselves up to a spiritual boost.

We know that on the Shabbat, the soul expands and we experience a Neshama Yetera, an additional soul which is granted to each Jew on that day. When we tap into that energy, we are able to feel the benefits of the Shabbat more deeply.

The Neshama Yeteira or additional soul, is present throughout Shabbat. Nevertheless, according to Rabbi Elie Munk (The Call of the Torah, Bamidbar, p.349) basing himself on mystical sources, this spiritual exaltation of the additional soul is evoked most powerfully when the congregation sing the Shabbat Musaf Kedusha together.

May we join together in song during Kedusha this Shabbat and may our prayers be answered in full.