Can a table bring you closer to Hashem? Can a candle bring you atonement? If the Beis HaMikdash was all about sacrifices, what do Shabbos candles and challah have to do with it? And why does simply saying “Vayechulu” on Friday night carry the power of a korban?

This episode reveals how Shabbos mirrors the Beis HaMikdash in astonishing ways. The menorah becomes the Shabbos candles, the shulchan becomes the Shabbos table, and the korban tamid becomes the Vayechulu we recite each week. But the goal isn’t ritual—it’s reconnection. When we light candles, prepare the table, and declare Hashem’s mastery over creation, we’re not just remembering the Mikdash—we’re rebuilding it. Rabbi Klapper shows how each detail, even the number of challahs, echoes the sacred service of the Kohanim. Shabbos isn’t a substitute for the Mikdash. It’s a weekly Mikdash we step into with open eyes and full hearts.

Hosted by Rabbi Ari Klapper and produced by Eli Podcast Productions, this episode is part of the Real Judaism series, available on RealJudaism.org. Don't forget to subscribe and share to stay connected with our daily lessons and timeless Torah insights!