During my year in Israel as many other yeshivah guys did, I spent a shabbos lunch at Rabbi Machlis. It was hot and crowded but a joyous shabbos atmosphere. what I remember most about the meal is Rav Machlises having one person from each table give over a teaching (no politics). A young guy from Brazil got up and told the following story. He said that he didn't grow up religious, but he knew about shabbos. He also knew that a person is supposed to do something special in the honor of shabbos. This guy liked to go out and dance in the clubs. He said that when he goes out to dance on Friday night he dances extra specially hard in the honor of shabbos. Me and my buddies were doing a bit of snickering and eye rolling at this guys idea of oneg shabbos, but Rav Machlis had his eyes closed and was swaying intently. He remarked " I've been keeping shabbos for so many years, yet I don't think I have kept shabbos to the degree that you have". The snickering faded, I knew I was far, and I gained much respect for Rav Machlis the ultimate shabbos warrior.
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