Some problems in the text of our Parshah.
1) Why is the word "My Sabbath days" in the plural? Since the reference is to a single day, namely the seventh day of the week, the reference cannot be to God. Also, since the verse continues in the singular i.e. "it is a sign," we are evidently speaking about that Sabbath only, not other holy convocations that do not qualify for the description ot, sign!
2) Why does the Torah repeat here once more what has been discussed in the previous Parshah, i.e. "observe the Sabbath...he who desecrates it shall be executed?" We find the same repetition in connection with the paragraph of "va-yechullu."
3) How can the words "whosoever desecrates it will be executed," (i.e. by a human tribunal) be followed by "whosoever performs work on that day, his soul will be cut off from his people," (suggesting death by heavenly tribunal Exodus 31, 14-15.) How does one statement lead to the other?
4) Since the objective of the Sabbath legislation is rest, inactivity, why is it always linked with the order "six days you shall work?" The reason cannot be to "permit" work on the six days, since there had never been reason to believe that it was forbidden. Although our sages in Mechiltah 20, commented that it means that even thinking about work is forbidden on the Sabbath, the statement is repeated too frequently not to have additional meaning.
5) If, as explained traditionally, the words "remember the Sabbath" and "observe the Sabbath" were uttered at Mount Sinai simultaneously, why did the Torah not record both expressions each time the text of the ten commandments is recorded in the Torah?
1) The first principle to be appreciated in order to hold a true belief in the creation of the universe ex nihilo, a belief upon which all the other dogmas of faith are based, is the belief in the ability of the Creator to exercise His will upon all creatures in all spheres of the universe, and His ability to create new facts in heaven and on earth for the benefit of His followers, or to the detriment of His enemies. (as explained in connection with the story of the creation and the deluge) We are exhorted to observe the Sabbath by refraining from activity since in this way we testify to the fact that creation commenced from an absolute void.
4) One could ask that since
chidush, a new creation is essentially an activity, should it not best be remembered by our observing the six days of creation (the work week) as a memorial to that fact, since that is when the activity took place? When we examine the concept of rest more closely, we realise that what best testifies to the concept of creation ex nihilo, is that from which He has already rested ever since; only that kind of creative activity is not ongoing. This excludes evolutionary changes that start from somewhere rather than from nowhere, and are going on forever. Therefore the Torah writes on the occasion of the very first Sabbath, "for on that day He desisted from all His work which He had created to be carried out in an ongoing fashion i.e.
la-assot.” (
Genesis 2,
3) This is to counter the idea prevalent among some Jews that the story of creation is compatible with the view of
kadmut ha-olam, the primacy of matter. This is dealt with in chapter 4.
2) In order to reinforce our appreciation of the special Providence that guides the fortunes of our people through all the miracles God has performed, He arranged a second New Year for calculating months and festivals, and handed us the key to this as explained in chapter thirty seven. This is what our sages had in maind when they instituted
kiddush, the sanctification of the Sabbath. First we recite: "a memorial to the work of creation," then we follow by reciting "the first of the holy convocations, a memorial to the Exodus from Egypt." The reason that these two remembrances could not be combined in one single phrase is that the Sabbath reminds us of
chidush ha-olam, creation ex nihilo which is the foundation that all
moadim, festivals have to be based on. These
moadim testify to the complete freedom with which God conducts history. Had He not created ex nihilo, the
moadim could not testify to that fact. The essence of the Sabbath legislation then is to implant in our hearts the belief in
chidush ha-olam, from which flows the belief in God’s unimpaired Omnipotence. The festivals remind us that God’s potential power was in fact translated into practice. Both of these facts are remembered by abstaining from work on the Sabbath, as we will demonstrate in detail. Abstention from work by any person usually consists of two parts. A) The quiet and respite experienced by the person who is prohibited to work. B) The non performance of the labour which would normally have been performed. If one looks only at the first part, it seems that as long as the work that one abstains from could be performed automatically, mechanically, or without causing fatigue to the person performing it, there would be no objection to such work being performed on the Sabbath. On the other hand, if we look only at the second aspect, the fact that the work does not get performed, i.e. consideration of the labourer's fatigue or otherwise, does not concern us. Work prohibition on the Sabbath demonstrates that God is concerned with both aspects. On the one hand the Torah writes (
Exodus 20,
9) "six days you shall labour and do all your work;" on the other hand the Torah writes "the seventh day is a day of rest to the Lord your God, you must not do any work etc....because God did...and He rested on the seventh day." The repetition of "you must not do any work," clearly shows that the "rest," or "physical fatigue" factor is not the only criterion in the Sabbath observance. The major objective to be achieved by the respite resulting from work abstention, is the chance to reflect on the meaning of the day, and on the revelation in which God demonstrated His freedom. Since the word
zechirah, remembrance can be applied to matters involving action, whereas the word
shemirah suggests matters involving inaction, he Torah uses
zechirah when it emphasises
respite, i.e. remember to rest!. When the Torah wishes to emphasize abstention from work per se, it uses the word
shemirah, "be careful not to do any work!"(see Talmud Berachot 20) The Torah's wording then corresponds to the two objectives of the Sabbath legislation. In the first instance, the Torah writes
zachor, reminding us of the need to rest, since it will enable us to appreciate that
He blessed the day by instituting
rest as a corollary to creation ex nihilo. On the second set of tablets, when the major objective is abstention from work, cessation thereof, the term
shamor is appropriate. So is the reminder that we were
not able to cease work while
enslaved in Egypt. For this reason the Torah adds in that instance "in order that your servant rests just like you," a comment not found on the first set of tablets recorded in Parshat Yitro. In response to the freedom God had displayed in practicing
hashgachah peratit, personal guidance of the Jews' fates in Egypt, we are told "Therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day." This is going a step
beyond the injunction in Yitro which merely said "therefore God blessed the Sabbath and sanctified it." Since the major significance lies in the
menuchah-nefishah-shavat aspect, the men of the great assembly when referring to the Sabbath in our prayers, always call it "this day of rest," not just "Sabbath," since that latter word combines rest and non-activity in equal measure. By this little addition of "this day of rest," we know that this is the major factor. Therefore, on the first tablets it says "He rested" on the seventh day, to counter the non believers in creation ex nihilo. Similarly, Onkelos translates Leviticus 25,5, "it shall be a year of Shabbaton for the land," as "a year of idleness, abstention from work." But the words
“shabbat shabbaton lashem,” he translates as "a day of restfulness" (ibid verse 4) Since we have established rest and relaxation as being associated with the word
zachor, and the abstention from work with the word
shamor, and it is clear that abstention from work will lead to rest and relaxation, our sages said that these two terms were uttered simultaneously.
(Psalms 62, 12) "One thing the Lord has spoken, I have heard the dual meaning." This refers to the total of textual variants between the first and the second sets of tablets. This also answers the question raised by Maimonides that belief in creation ex nihilo depends on the ability to perform changes, and the ability to perform changes in nature depends in turn on the ability to create ex nihilo. To illustrate: Reuben gave Shimon a dollar to fulfill the
mitzvah of
tzedakah. He also wanted to express his compassion with Shimon in this way. If we remove one of the two reasons, the
mitzvah was fulfilled although some element of it had been lacking. In the first set of tablets there is a causal relationship between the reason for the
mitzvah and the
mitzvah itself. Without the
zechirah remembrance, the
mitzvah becomes meaningless; in the second set of tablets (ten commandments) the reason merely becomes subordinate, i.e. "therefore God commanded you to do." The
mitzvah will be fulfilled,
la-assot by its very performance, regardless of the reason associated with it.
The other important aspect of this mitzvah is, that by observing it we are enabled to familiarise ourselves with the entire Torah, commentaries etc.
By appointing a day a week when we forsake preoccupation with all matters that are of a transient nature, we have the opportunity to listen to the Torah's instruction, each person according to the level of the faculties he has been endowed with, of course. Spiritual contentment is attained through such Torah study. The Talmud Yerushalmi Shabbat 16, halachah 3, goes so far as to say that the Sabbath was given to Israel primarily to enable us to study. This is an aspect of the
neshama yeteyrah, additional soul, which the Talmud Beytzah 16, says we possess on that day, due to the preparations we make to welcome the arrival of the Sabbath. This refers to preparations made by both lecturers and listeners. This is also one of the reasons we find the Sabbath described as "equivalent to all the other commandments combined." Scriptural proof is available from all three parts of the Bible. All of this is due to the intensive preparation involved in getting ready to observe the
mitzvah of Shabbat. We could find additional proof in our very Parshah where we have the juxtaposition "these are the words which the Lord commanded to be kept," followed by "six days work shall be done and the seventh day shall be a holy Sabbath for you unto God." It seems as if the rest of Torah legislation is equated with Sabbath observance. The Rabbis who composed the grace after meals, have expressed the same juxtaposition in the insert we recite on the Sabbath. "Be pleased, O Lord our God, fortify us by Your commandments,"-- "and by the commandment pertaining to the seventh day." Because of the importance of this day, we find many more types of prohibitions associated with this commandment than with any other commandment. We also have the penalty of "stoning" for wilful transgression after due warning. We learn from the frequent repetition of the Sabbath laws in the Torah that even mental preoccupation with weekday matters is taboo, see Isaiah 58, 13. A true Sabbath observer is someone who does not engage in idle chatter on that day.
(Shabbat 150) One's conversation should not be like that on weekdays. Some people do not speak anything but Hebrew on the Sabbath. The definition of
melachah work, is usually an activity planned in advance.
(machashavah) It is only this kind of work that is subject to the severe penalties of the Torah. All manner of activity which tends to sow hatred, disharmony etc. is likewise forbidden under the euphemism "do not light fire in any of your dwellings," (35,3) which appears adjacent to the main legislation. Anyone who fails to utilise the opportunity the Sabbath offers him to study Torah, is in fact contributing to his own death. It is this that Rabbi Ami had in mind when he went on record (
Yerushalmi Moed Katan 2, halachah 3) "If I had found someone who would agree with me, I would have permitted work on the intermediate days of the festival.." Since the work prohibition on those days has as its purpose to free people to eat, drink and study Torah, and the people ignored the part about studying Torah, better they should at least work than belittle the sanctity of these days by not studying Torah.
The experts of the Kabbalah have revealed to us another fine spiritual aspect of this day, inasmuch as it possesses the distinction to help also those who seek out wisdom and Torah. This great day alluded to the seventh of the ten sefirot, emanations, which is called Sabbath, and which is like a hallway leading to the illustrious palace which is called Shabbat hagadol, the meaning of which will be discussed later. All of this is included in the commandment "six days you shall work," i.e. expend your energy performing mitzvot in this world of "vanity," so that on the seventh and holy day you will be able to enjoy contemplative rest. We can now answer the question of why the Torah speaks about "My Sabbaths." (plural) Since, as we have demonstrated, there are in reality three dimensions to the Sabbath idea, the Torah is at pains to include them all when listing the commandment. After stating the idea, each dimension is explained individually. Concerning the first dimension, it says "for it is a sign between Me and you for generations, so that you know that I, the Lord, sanctify you." Abstention from work is the visible sign for all future generations to know that He has hallowed us through this commandment, and that this distinction will make us take part in the hidden world reserved in the future. This is the key, the gateway to that ultimate Sabbath.
3) Concerning the second dimension of the Sabbath, the Torah states "Observe the Sabbath for it is holy for you, anyone desecrating it will be put to death, since anyone doing work on it, his soul will be cut off from his people." He who osseh bo, will use Torah and mitzvot to enrich himself, uses the idea of the Sabbath for transient personal gain, studies for ulterior motives, mot yumat, deserves death in both worlds, will never experience the ultimate Sabbath. On the other hand, "kol ha-osseh melachah beyom hashabbat,” he who performs physical labour (of the forbidden categories) will be put to death by human tribunal. Hillel said in Avot 1, according to Rashi, that "anyone using," i.e. abusing the "crown,” i.e. holy scriptures, religion, loses his claim to eternity. "Anyone eating" (mundane satisfaction) from words of Torah, is really taking away from his life. (Rashi on Avot 4,7) Concerning the third dimension, it says "veshamroo..,the eternal covenant." When the first two dimensions of the Sabbath have been fulfilled, we will be party to the third dimension, the treasure reserved for us by God, concerning which the prophet Isaiah 64,3, said "no eye has beheld such treasure, it is reserved for the Lord alone to grant to him who waits for Him. We find all three dimensions of the Sabbath alluded to in our Sabbath prayers.
1) "You have not given this day of the Sabbath to the nations of the world."
2) "You have not given an inheritance to idol worshippers."
3) "Also on His day of rest, an uncircumcised person must not rest." Line one, corresponds to the idea of
ot, sign, it is sufficient to set us apart from them. Line two tells us that the granting of the Sabbath legislation applies only to believers; non believers do not benefit from the gift of the Sabbath. Our sayes (Eycha Rabbati 2) tell us that if a gentile claims that he possesses Torah, do not believe him, if he claims to possess wisdom however, you may believe him. The gentiles have no share in the Torah of Israel. Line 3 tells us that as long as he is uncircumcised and impure, the most well intentioned gentile cannot be included in the community of Israel. Only conversion can make him part of the Jewish nation. The prayer continues "for to Your people of Israel You have given it, to the seed of Jacob whom You have chosen." The Talmud Shabbat 119, relates that the emperor asked Rabbi Joshua ben Chananyah "why does the Sabbath food exude such a pleasant fragrance?" The Rabbi answered that we have a special seasoning called
shevet which we put into it. Thereupon the emperor requested to be given some of this seasoning. The Rabbi told him that that seasoning was effective only when used by people who observe the Sabbath. The emperor had realised that the seasoning of our lives provided by the Sabbath, permeates the world, so that Jews could inherit it; he wanted to know by what means and what merit Jews achieve their ultimate triumph. The Rabbi told him that it was due to compliance with the two dimensions of the Sabbath legislation discussed previously. When the emperor said "let me participate anyways," he had to be told that without accepting the burden of all the commandments first, all of which depend on these two dimensions of the Sabbath, this could not be. Let us return now to the opening statement in this chapter, that all the tasks God has allotted to man specifically are included in the commandment "six days work shall be performed, and the seventh day shall be holy for you, a Sabbath to God." (35,2) God has given this day three names (dimensions) which between them remove the obstacle to Sabbath observance represented by the six
malachey chabbalah, angels of destruction. The Sabbath therefore is the source of all blessings and sanctities; the sanctity of all the other holy days is derived from the Sabbath. A sign of this is the fact that all holy days are called holy convocations because they take this name from the Sabbath, and are hallowed by its sanctity. However, the Sabbath itself, seeing that it does not need to draw on outside inspiration to achieve its own sanctity, is nowhere referred to as a holy convocation except in Parshat Emor,where it is like a guest in the paragraph dealing with all the festivals, heading the list. At any rate, the Sabbath is the source of sanctity and blessing from which blessing and sanctity flow to all those who prepare themselves to welcome it. Under the aegis of the seventh
sefirah, Israel received the Torah under oath. It is all one great mystical experience for them. This in turn confers upon its adherents the
atzilut, spiritual nobility, that is the reward for observing this commandment. The reason that the Sabbath is considered equal to all the other commandments then is the
sefirah Shabbat, the mystical domain from which all commandments have been issued to Israel. It is this which Isaiah has in mind in chapter 58, 13. This is also what Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai meant when he interpreted the Midrash which has God’s consoling the Sabbath that Israel would be its mate.
(Bereshit Rabbah 11) For this reason, the Sabbath legislation took chronological precedence over all the other
mitzvot having been taught to the people already at Marah, prior to the revelation at Mount Sinai.
(Sanhedrin 56) We welcome the
shechinah every Sabbath, calling it a bride, since it is a tangible expression of God love for us.
(Shabbat 119) This also explains the strange statement in Shabbat 118, that if someone had committed adultery such as Enosh, as long as he observed the Sabbath meticulously, he would be forgiven. The scriptural proof for this statement is brought from Isaiah 56,2, "hail ENOSH (person?) who does this..who observes the Sabbath, not to desecrate it." Anyone who observes the Sabbath in all the aforementioned aspects, must already have been truly repentant. We apply the principle then that the position occupied by repentant sinners cannot even be matched by the perfectly righteous.
(Berachot 34) Such a person is referred to as
enosh, just as the original Enosh of whom the Torah states that he "proclaimed the name of God." (
Genesis 4,
26) The common denominator then between how the two aspects of Sabbath observance affect us is, that this noble, holy day paves the way for study and understanding of, and eventual observance of all the
mitzvot.
The third principle we learn from the Sabbath is that this holy day contains a veiled reference to the everlasting world, otherwise known as
kullo shabbat. (see end of tractate Tamid) It is this aspect which is meant when we talk about the "great Sabbath," i.e. the true greatness of the Sabbath. If we have stated in the first principle that the six days of creation are reminders of things that are transient and subject to motion, whereas the Sabbath reminds us of rest, conclusion of work, so it is also a veiled hint of man's life as such. He moves and strives towards those activities that lead him towards his true purpose. The Sabbath then is a symbol of man's true destiny and purpose. The Talmud Berachot 56, says that the Sabbath is 1/60th of the world to come, and they comment that though the Sabbath itself is something visible in public, the reward for observing it is not visible in public.
(Shabbat 10) We see there are two names for the Sabbath, the visible one and the invisible one. The invisible Sabbath will be granted to those who observe the visible Sabbath. Compare this to the lady who has been entrusted with the key to his treasure chamber, by the king. Obviouly, he means for her to be in command of the treasures hidden in that room. The Talmud Shabbat 118, states that if Israel were to observe two Sabbaths, they would immediately be redeemed. The meaning is that if Israel were to observe both aspects of the Sabbath as we have outlined them, redemption would follow in its wake. We would immediately merit the "great Sabbath," redemption of the soul and its salvation. It is clear that such tremendous results cannot be achieved without the expenditure of great amounts of energy. Therefore, the Rabbis tell us,
(Avodah Zarah 3) that he who has toiled on the Sabbath eve will eat on the Sabbath, whereas he who did not toil on the Sabbath eve "what will he eat?" Therefore, as we have said earlier, true happiness is found in the efforts expended by man commensurate with his standing in nature, not idleness. How remarkably is this concept reflected in the fact that the "do's" in the Torah correspond to the 248 limbs in our body, and the "dont's" to the 365 days of the year.
(Makkot 27) Each limb exhorts us daily to avoid preoccupation with the vain things in life, the pursuit of which results in our failing to acquire the true acquisitions which have enduring value. (this has been discussed in Psalms 119)
The first name (principle) of the Sabbath, helps remove two obstacles to Sabbath observance, namely the profound nature of the inadequate perceptual powers of the people who are to observe the Sabbath. By allowing us to stop work on the Sabbath, God has enabled us to grasp spiritual truths no gentile has an inkling of. By removing our work load, He has given us the time to study Torah and thus add an extra dimension to our soul. In this way, we can correct our faults, shortcomings, and advance towards perfection, something no other people can accomplish. The second name (principle) of the Sabbath removes two further obstacles to Sabbath observance, namely the natural tendencey to opt for a life of ease and indulgence, and the obstacle to the arduous task of performing mitzvot and acquire Torah knowledge. The Sabbath provides an incentive to learn. The moral and ethical truths learned on that day provide a bulwark against our baser instincts and traits. The third name (principle) helps to deal with the remaining two obstacles, namely the need to attend to the task of earning a livelihood, ensure our material well being, as well as the need to ensure our physical well being, health. Once one has absorbed the lesson of the third Sabbath principle, namely the lack of substance of everything material, one is well on the way to achieving mastery of the mind over the body. All the examples of apparently superhuman limitation in food intakes such as Rabbi Chaninah ben Dotha subsisting on a "kav of carobs," or Moses going without food and drink for forty days, are then understood quite easily.
Exodus Rabbah 25, raised the question why the Torah uses the word
re-oo, see, instead of
de-oo, know! in the verse "see I have
given you the Sabbath." (
Exodus 16,
29) The answer is simple. Should the nations of the world ask us why we keep the Sabbath, we can simply point out that on the Sabbath the manna did not fall. This was visible evidence of Sabbath observance from on high, ergo Sabbath observance of the Jewish people down on earth. At the same time this proves that the legislation, or
gift rather, was given
only to us since no one else was given the manna. For the rest of mankind the operative line in the Bible is
yom valaylah lo yishbatu, neither by day nor by night will they cease, rest. In fact a gentile who chooses to observe the Sabbath is guilty of the death penalty.
(Sanhedrin 68) This prohibition and penalty for the gentile is similar to the prohibition and penalty for the Jew who is not a priest and who undertakes to assume the functions of priesthood, offers sacrifices on the altar. He too will die, since he arrogated to himself privileges he had not been granted. (
Numbers 18,
7) The exclusive nature of the gift of the Sabbath is documented in the verse "between Me and you it is an eternal sign." (
Exodus 31, 17.) Clearly, the day was granted only to the Jewish people. We relate to God like a bride to a bridegroom. Therefore, the first Sabbath observed by the Jewish people at Marah, when the manna fell (or rather, did
not fall) was like a betrothal; the Sabbath on the occasion of the revelation at Mount Sinai represented the wedding canopy. The visible sign,
chibbur of this union is the Sabbath, much like the wedding band received, worn and treasured by the bride. The Friday night prayer, i.e. the benediction
attah kidashta You have sanctified, reflects these thoughts. The Friday night prayer is like
kidushin, betrothal, the Sabbath morning prayer
yismach Moshe represents the wedding ceremony. The Minchah prayer
atta echad stresses the union that has been achieved between Israel and its God. Our Parshah starts with the words "These are the words which the Lord has commanded to do them; six days work shall be performed, the seventh day shall be holy for you, a Shabbaton of solemn rest to the Lord; anyone performing work on that day shall be put to death. You must not light any fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day." Rabbi Yehudah in Shabbat 97, interprets the words
eyleh hadvarim, these are the words, as hinting at the thirty nine categories of work prohibited on the Sabbath which were communicated to Moses orally at Mount Sinai, (see Rashi's comment on how this is arrived at) The fact that the words "these are the words" refer to the subsequent Sabbath legislation is proved by the grammar. It does not say
shishah yamim (six days), but
sheyshet yamim. (on the six days previously mentioned, a possessive form.) Had the subject matter been new, the Torah would have had to use the word
shishah. Even the singling out of the one commandment "do not light any fire," which is discussed in Shabbat 70, still permits our previously expressed concept that the tabernacle and its resultant legislation is seen as a microcosm of the world at large.
1) The fact that the entire Sabbath legislation concludes with the words "observe My Sabbath days!" points at the three way division which we find in the sanctuary, and its ascending scales of sanctity. A) the outer courtyard; B) the sanctuary; C) the holy of holies, site of the holy ark. We find the parallel relationship between the three aspects of the Sabbath in the use of the plural "observe My Sabbath days and revere My holy place!" (
Leviticus 19,30) God’s instructions in Parshat Terumah, chapter twenty five, begin with an overall description of the total tabernacle, to afford the artisans an overview of what the parts are to be used for. We find the same order again when God instructs in chapter thirty one. Subsequently, the details are listed, beginning with the furnishings, ending with the tabernacle itself. In the case of the actual construction, however, the tabernacle is constructed first, the furnishings later.
The reason may be closely linked to what is referred to in our opening Midrash. Since both the Sabbath and the tabernacle are microcosms of the total Jewish world philosophy, the fact that the tabernacle was constructed first, is cited by the Midrash also. It is a reminder that our philosophy is based on what the Psalmist has described "He stretches the heavens like a carpet," (
Psalms 104,
2) meaning God created the universe out of nothing and only subsequently supplied the matter in it. This is something which needed to be acknowledged by
kol chacham lev, every wise hearted man who was employed in the construction of the tabernacle. Preoccupation with the donations for and building of the tabernacle, were strong antibodies against the natural difficulties encountered by man in rising to his full potential. Therefore, the Midrash lists the furnishings as well, since the construction of each was a way of overcoming natural obstacles to becoming a servant of the Lord in the full sense of the word. If the Midrash quotes the verse from Isaiah "and the light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be sevenfold the strength of what it was during the seven days of creation," (
Isaiah 30,
26) this is a hint that in the future we will merit enlightnement from God directly, our spiritual capacities will have been expanded so that no intermediaries will be needed any longer. The holy ark in the tabernacle is the symbol then of the third dimension of the Sabbath, discussed earlier in this chapter.