The Mystery of Shabbos
לזכר נשמות לאה שושנה בת אהרן ריעדער מורינו ר׳ צבי הערש בן ר׳ ניסן חיים מורינו ר׳ ישעי בן ר׳ משה ר׳ יעקב בן ר׳ שמואל יוסף מ׳ חוה רבקה בת ר׳ שמעון ריעדער
Based on Nefesh Shimshon by Rav Shimshon Pincus, zt”l
Of all of our holy days, we only say about Shabbos that it is more blessed and sanctified than any other day or time. There is no other mitzvah that we live or experience like Shabbos. Shabbos takes up more than a 7th of our life — Every seventh day is Shabbos and it spills over into Friday and Saturday — Therefore, we experience Shabbos more than any other mitzvah.
Shabbos is essential to the life of a Jew. It is the source of all blessing, yet somehow, it is the time least utilized and least understood of all holy days. Not that we’re ignorant of halachos, we’re familiar with hilchos Shabbos. But how many of us are successful at drawing from the wellspring?
How many of us walk away from Shabbos with depth, understanding, and growth in our avodas Hashem?
Most people gain something from other Yamim Tovim. We walk out of Rosh Hashanah enriched with yiras Shamayim. We walk out of Shavuos enriched in Torah.
But when Shabbos arrives, even if we’re looking forward to it, we don’t really know what we’re supposed to be doing.
In the summer, people find Shabbos too long, they complain that the day drags on forever.
It doesn’t excite them — we don’t know how to appreciate it and understand its purpose.
What’s the definition of Shabbos?
Pesach is zeman cheruisainu, Shavuos is zeman Matan Toraseinu. What is Shabbos? Zeman… of what?
What is the special avodah we should be doing on Shabbos?
Pesach, we have a Seder, eat matzah, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we have avodas hayom. Shavuos, we stay up all night learning.
The tremendous potential of this day goes unnoticed, because people don’t know what Shabbos truly is all about.
So come! Let’s learn!
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Let’s Reflect:
While we learn more about the definition of Shabbos, can we make changes to appreciate the day itself in the meantime? Summer Shabbosim are upon us. If we smile lazily when the kids ask if Shabbos is over already, and answer “ I hope not!” that itself can make such a difference. Ensure you’re excited about the day, and that will trickle over to the rest of the household
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