In this week’s Torah reading we come across the commandment of Shabbos. I’d like to pick up on a point about Shabbos which makes it quite unique and unlike almost any other command in Torah. For the vast majority of Mitzvos we do, the central idea that is at the base of the commandment is the fact that I am doing the command of Hashem. Shabbos however is more than just doing as Hashem commands; it is actually greeting and receiving Hashem’s presence.
Another example of a Mitzvah of this type is Davening, where the command itself is the connection to Hashem – the personal relationship that can be found in prayer. It’s not surprising therefore that by both davening and Shabbos we find that there is an explicit idea to prepare for them – not so by any other command [although some preparation before you do any Mitzvah is highly advisable!] The Shabbos preparations particularly on Friday are unique in that they are an integral part of the observance of Shabbos.
In this week’s Parshah we are told “On six days work – ‘tai’oseh’ – may be done”. The commentators points out that the term ‘tai’oseh’ is passive: work will be done. It would seem that ‘ta’aseh’ – you shall do work, would be a more appropriate term.
One explanation is that herein lies the key to be able to rest on Shabbos. When we do our work but remember that we are but passive pawns in the hands of Hashem, then we can come into Shabbos with that feeling of serenity. Not just Erev Shabbos (Friday), but the work of the entire week is directed towards that connection with Hashem that is Shabbos.
Furthermore it has been pointed out that it seems puzzling that we are commanded to work for six days. One who is independently wealthy is surely not commanded to work! However we can now readily see how our attitude during the six days of work is integral to the building of the relationship with Hashem on Shabbos. On a deeper level ‘Six days you shall work’ is not a command to work but a command to foster a relationship so that when Shabbos comes we are ready, waiting and yearning.
A Shomer erev-Shabbos Jew is what the Ohr Hachaim [1696-1743] envisions in his explanation of the words we say in Kiddush, “Ve’shomru ve’nai Yisroel es Ha’Shabbos”. On the one hand the verse can be translated as “And the Children of Yisroel should keep the Shabbos” – they were Shomer Shabbos Jews (Shabbos observant). But “ve’shomru” can also mean “to anticipate greatly”. Now the verse reads, “and the children of Israel should yearn for the Shabbos” – they were Shomer erev-Shabbos Jews!
Let’s finish with a beautiful story about yearning for Shabbos – I tell it to my kids almost every other week!
Shlomo Carlebach [1925-1994] gave a concert, and was given a lift back by a couple who shared with him their story. “We were both from totally irreligious families when we got married. However unfortunately we were never blessed with children. After years of despair suddenly I managed to get further then ever before in my pregnancy. However one morning I woke up feeling not right.
I went to the doctor who cruelly told me, that I was just not made to mother children and I was going to lose the baby. I drove home with feelings of misery – I was so angry. Then it dawned on me to pray – for the first time! I walked into the local Shul that I had never set foot into previously and davened to keep my baby. After I prayed, I felt that I had spoken to G-d for real! On the spot I decided to take something on. The only mitzvah I knew about was the lighting of candles for Shabbos and so began my trip to becoming Shomer Shabbos. Thank G-d today we have two beautiful children and one on the way Please G-d” concluded the couple.
A few months later Shlomo was passing through the town where this couple lived and he decided to pop in to visit this special couple. He came into their large house and the woman says she wants to show him something. She led him though various rooms of their mansion until they enter into the main dining room. She flicked on the lights to show him the beautifully set Shabbos table; in the middle of the table standing proud are the Shabbos candles all made up and ready to be lit! She relates to him how every Mot’zai Shabbos as soon as her husband has finished saying bye-bye to Shabbos with the Havdalah ceremony she straight away goes and sets up the room for next Shabbos!
And that’s what I call yearning for Shabbos! May we indeed become Shomer EREV-Shabbos Jews!
Good Shabbos, Yaakov
