This week, I would like to share with you something of a different nature to our previous weeks: some unique laws concerning women and the preparation for Shabbath.
Fridays are usually challenging since they represent times of engaging ourselves in performing important Miswoth (commandments). Any time we increase our spiritual practices, the negative forces in the world become intensified as well, serving as an obstacle, to prevent us from doing our holy work.
Hakham Yoseph Hayyim, in his holy work, Laws for Women, brings the following Halakhoth. On Friday, during the course of preparing for Shabbath, it is a good habit for the women to say the following three words: "Likhbod Shabbath Qodesh", in honor of the holy Shabbath. Any time we engage ourselves in special activities preparing for Shabbath we should pronounce these words.
It is a good practice to clear all the cobwebs in the house, every Friday before noon. We should refrain from washing clothes on Friday, as Ezra the Scribe instituted. Only in cases where we were unable to wash prior to Friday, is washing permitted (some are more lenient where there is a dryer in the home). In addition, children's clothes which are washed daily, may be washed on Fridays.
