Ep. 49 – A Good Smell on Shabbos

Why does the Torah highlight the prohibition of fire—but not of smell—on Shabbos? And why does a fragrance have the power to shift the atmosphere of a home? We’re used to thinking of smells as trivial—nice, maybe—but not spiritual. But Chazal, the Zohar, and even the Ketores say otherwise.

Rabbi Klapper takes us deep into the quiet power of reach tov, showing how scent is more than perfume—it’s presence. In the Beis HaMikdash, the ketores didn’t just make things smell nice; it announced that the Shechina was welcome. And in our homes, the smell of food, flowers, and warmth becomes a defense against kas—anger—and against the fire the Satan loves to light on Erev Shabbos. That’s why Chazal say don’t light a fire in your homes—not just a physical one, but the emotional kind too. This episode explores how to protect your Shabbos atmosphere, build shalom bayis, and make your home a place the Shechina wants to enter. Because yes, holiness can be smelled.

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!