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Isaac’s Parsha Corner – Yitro 2023
Shabbat - A Day Unlike Any Other
“Zachor Et Yom Hashabat Lekadsho”. Remember the Sabbath to sanctify it. (Ex 20:8)
The Midrash has several interpretations for this Pasuk:
“Pay close attention to Shabbat so that if you encounter a special item during the week you will save it for Shabbat. (Rashi, quoting Talmud Bavli - Beitzah 16a)”
“Each day of the week is named by referring to its relationship to Shabbat; First day of Shabbat, Second Day of Shabbat etc. (Mechilta)”
“Remember it with wine and sanctify it. (Talmud Bavli Pesachim: 106a)”
“By doing so you will remember that God created the world in six days and rested on day seven. Shabbat is the “Sign or Symbol” for belief in God as the Creator. (Ramban)”
“He rested from His work which was the work of creation, so must we rest from our creative work. Just like He rested from work which was accomplished and completed on the Seventh day so must we behave as though our work is completed and we should not focus on the work still to be done. (Rashi, quoting the Mechilta)”
“God, who created the world with speech alone, rested from His speech on Shabbat. We must therefore rest from our normal speech on Shabbat . The Shabbat must be a day for prayer, Torah study, and also for eating and drinking. (Midrash)”
As remembering Shabbat in each of the above ways fulfills a positive commandment it is a reflection of “Love of God”. This compares to the commandment of “Shamor et Yom Hashabat” or Guard the Shabbat. That Pasuk which introduces Shabbat in Parshat Vaetchanan, (Deut 5:12) refers to the prohibition from working on Shabbat. That Pasuk is considered an example of “Fear of God”. Love of God is always on a higher level than Fear of God. On Shabbat the positive aspects are more important than are the prohibitions. (Ramban)”
It may be argued that the purpose of the prohibitions is to create the space for rest needed for Torah and for service to God.
“On the day that the Jews were to receive the Torah God called out, “I have a gift for you, but only if you accept the Torah. That gift is “Olam Habah” the world to come.” The Jewish people asked to see a sample of what that would be like. God showed them Shabbat which is equal to one sixtieth of Olam Habah. (The Letters of R Akivah letter #1)”
Let us use the day of Shabbat to sanctify His name through prayer, Torah study, and meals with friends and family so that we will be uplifted along with the day itself and thereby experience the next world in our world.
Shabbat Shalom
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