R. M. Levi
Based on lessons by Rebbetzin M. Levi (daughter of Rabbi Shimshon Dovid Pincus)
On Shabbat, we do not make personal requests of the Almighty unless someone's life is in danger that very day. One would think it should be the other way around! The Almighty is here, with you—ask for whatever you want!
The simple answer is that on Shabbat, material things do not concern us; we ask only for spiritual things: "Sanctify us with Your commandments… Grant us a share in Your Torah… Purify our hearts so that we may serve You in truth." This is what we desire on this day!
My father explained it a little differently. He told a parable:
A man has to raise money abroad for a yeshiva. When he arrives, he begins asking where he might receive donations. He is told that there is a wealthy man who, if he can be persuaded, might give a thousand dollars! He gets the wealthy man's details and goes to see him. A servant opens the door. The fundraiser asks him to tell the wealthy man that he lives next door to his son and has come to pass along greetings.
When the wealthy man hears that his son's neighbor has come, he comes downstairs to see him. He hears the visitor express admiration for his child, and, of course, this gives him great pleasure: "Thank you, you have made me so happy. Can I help you with anything?"—"No, no, I just stopped by to pass along greetings."—"But you have made me so happy… Do come again."—"Of course I will."
The next day he comes again. The wealthy man no longer speaks to him at the door, but invites him into his study.
Once again, he hears glowing praise of his son, his daughter-in-law, his grandchildren… "How can I help you?"—"Thank you, there's no need."—"I enjoy talking to you so much… Come back tomorrow." The following day, they are already sitting in armchairs in the drawing room. The conversation still revolves around the son, but now they talk about other things as well… Gradually, they become friends. The people around him cannot understand what is happening: "Why don't you ask him for money? He could give you several thousand dollars! You're wasting your time knocking on different doors and collecting a little here and a little there." He does not answer them. A year passes this way.
Now he and the wealthy man are the closest of friends. One fine day, the wealthy man says to him: "I've made some inquiries. I was told that you are raising money for a yeshiva. Tell me, what does your yeshiva lack?"—"A building. Our yeshiva has no premises."—"You need a building? I'll pay for it!!!"
If he had asked for money at the very beginning, how much would he have received? A thousand dollars? What happened that the wealthy man is now willing to pay for a building that costs millions of dollars? Closeness and friendship developed between them.
On Shabbat, we ask nothing of the Almighty. We only want to be close to Him.
And now our prayer looks different. We do not speak ill of others; anger has no place in our home… We are filled with love for the Almighty. At the close of Shabbat, the Almighty says: "And now, ask…" This is a special time for personal requests. There is a special prayer cited in the Jerusalem Talmud; it appears in prayer books.
A remarkable prayer: "Open for us the gates of light, the gates of blessing, the gates of deliverance, the gates… the gates… the gates…" What is happening? The Almighty says: "And now—ask…"
He wants to give to us. But He wants us to ask, to draw close to Him, to recognize that He is the source of everything. At the close of Shabbat, we are so close to Him—this gives Him a reason to grant us what we ask for!