Parshas Vayakhel: The Family Shabbos

“[For] six days work shall be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you, a day of complete rest for G-d.” (Exodus 35:2)

Many commentators are bothered with the wording of this dictum to celebrate Shabbos. Why is there a necessity to mention the concept of work for six days? Additionally, why is the Hebrew word of Tay’aseh, literally meaning, “work will be done”, employed, in place of the word ta’aseh, which means “you shall [work]”?

The mystical work Zohar (Yisro p.88a) explains that the entire week receives its blessing from Shabbos. Therefore, if the seventh day is made holy, the six mundane days will be blessed from above. That is the reason for the nuance of the verse, which is actually proclaiming that the work of the six days is being performed by itself (G-d) for you, so long as Shabbos is sanctified.

The Chafetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan, (1838-1933) put tremendous effort into educating Jews about the importance of Shabbos. After a particularly emotional speech that he delivered, stressing this lesson from the Zohar, a very wealthy mill-owner approached the Chafetz Chaim asking for a dispensation to delay his Shabbos observance until he gets his business onto better footing. The Chafetz Chaim apologized that although he would technically give him a dispensation, since this is G-d’s command, there is no real leeway. The Chafetz Chaim went on to explain that opening up his mill on Shabbos is akin to adding a second spigot to a barrel of wine. It may seem as though more wine is available as a result, but we all know that the barrel only contains a limited amount of wine. Similarly, opening on Shabbos will not change the amount of money that you are slated to make during the year. The Chafetz Chaim ended off that G-d gives a special blessing to those who celebrate Shabbos. The man replied that he appreciated the Chafetz Chaim’s enthusiasm; however, a verse in the Torah cannot support his mill and replace his lost income. Shortly afterwards, the Communist Regime seized all of this man’s assets, and he returned to the Chafetz Chaim in tears that indeed, the verse in the Torah has full authority.

This same Chafetz Chaim was informed about a student of his who was caught smoking on Shabbos. He called in the trembling young man, held his hand, and began repeating the word: Shabbos, Shabbos. After the first tear rolled down the Chafetz Chaim’s face and hit the young man’s hand, he resolved to never again smoke on Shabbos. After the thirtieth or so tear hit his hand, he was a changed man forever. The Chafetz Chaim’s sincerity and his caring for Shabbos changed this man forever.

Talking about smoking, there was a wife who became Shabbos-observant, but her husband had yet to catch up to her. His smoking habit really disturbed her Shabbos, so she asked him to refrain from smoking as long as the Shabbos candles were burning. He agreed. After a couple of weeks, she bought taller and thicker candles, and he still kept his word. After a couple of months, she bought the 25-hour yahrtzeit candles, and lo and behold, he stopped smoking on Shabbos!
Now that we have dwelt on the significance of refraining from work on Shabbos, how do we sanctify Shabbos with our actions?

We are told that the pneumonic of Shabbos spells “sicha b’shabbos taanug”; learning on Shabbos is the true enjoyment of the day. G-d indeed placated the Torah that although in the desert the Jewish People were fully occupied with Torah, once they settled in Israel, at least once a week, on Shabbos, the Jews will once again be fully occupied with studying Torah. That is why there are so many learning opportunities available on Shabbos. (Introduction to Sefer Ihr David) (Although there also is the pneumonic of “Shina b’shabbos taanug”, resting on Shabbos is the enjoyment of the day, that is reserved for those who study the entire week)

Learning on Shabbos is not only referring to our personal learning, it includes our obligation to teach our children. Perhaps the best education takes place at the Shabbos meal. Parents who prepare the correct Torah lessons, stories, and questions for the Shabbos meal report that their children look forward to the Shabbos meal, and actually enjoy remaining at the table past the first course. One of the Torah leaders of the past generation, whose son didn’t quite follow in his Torah-true path, attributed it to his lack of singing Shabbos songs with his son. The Shabbos meal is one of the greatest opportunities to sanctify Shabbos. Let us use it appropriately.

The Taz, Rabbi David Halevi (1586-1667) comments that the juxtaposition of the command to build the Temple and the command to celebrate Shabbos, comes to teach us that the Temple only atones for the sin of idol-worship of the golden calf when Shabbos is also observed. Repentance for idol-worship can only be achieved if Shabbos is also celebrated. May we all merit to celebrate Shabbos on the highest level possible.