Friday Meal Dishes

Fish

It is the custom of Jewish communities to eat fish on Friday night. Fish are seen as animals that are protected from the evil eye, since they live in the water and cannot be seen from outside the water.
Another explanation attributes the custom of eating fish to the fact that the eyes of the fish- as opposed to other animals- are always open, which is an indication to Devine Providence.
An interesting midrash states that in the desert the people of Israel tasted in the heavenly manna every flavor in the world but fish. Therefore, some link the custom to eat fish with the wish to complete the missing manna favor, thus creating a perfect "oneg (joy of) Shabbat".

Gefilte Fish

The stuffed fish, known by its Yiddish name "Gefilte Fish", is considered in some Jewish communities as a "must" dish for Friday night meals. The filling hints to the manna, the bread of the sky which did not fall on Shabbat, and was places between two layers of dew.

Meat and Fish

According to the Kabbala literature, the Shabbat is called 'a taste of the world to come'. Various midrashim describe miraculous animals such as the leviathan and the wild bull, which will be used to make a banquet in the world to come. Eating fish and meat on Shabbat reminds us of that meal.

P'tcha

Hasidic literature explains that p'tcha- jelly made out of calves' hooves- is eaten on Shabbat because it is a day of truth. Since 'lies will not stand', the p'tcha is eaten to emphasize that Shabbat symbolizes the truth, which unlike the lie, stands on firm feet.

Sweets

A place of honor is allocated to sweets during Shabbat. The purpose of eating sweets on Shabbat is to add to the joy of Shabbat ("Oneg Shabbat").