B"H

Friday, Iyar 12, 5778 (27th day of Sefirah) / April 27, 2018

This Shabbat in the Diaspora we read two Parshiot together; Parshat Acharei & Parshat Kedoshim. In Israel, Parshat Emor is read.

Parshat Acharei begins with the service of the High Priest on Yom Kippur in the Holy Temple. In Parshat Kedoshim, the Torah relates many of the 613 mitzvot of the Torah.

Parshat Kedoshim begins with G-d commanding Moshe, “Speak to the entire congregation of Israel, and say to them: You should be holy, because I, G-d your G-d, am holy. Each person should fear his mother and his father and My Shabbat you shall observe, I am G-d, your G-d.”

We see here that the Torah connects the observance of Shabbat with fearing parents. In the Ten Commandments we find the same. The fourth commandment is: Remember the day of Shabbat to keep it holy.” The fifth commandment is: “Honor your father and your mother, so that the days of your life will be long.”

Q. What is the connection between honoring/fearing parents and observing Shabbat?

A. Our sages tell us that there are three partners in the creation of a child; G-d, mother and father. Mother and father need G-d’s partnership. Our sages explain that the parents contribute the physical part of the child and G-d provides LIFE - the Neshama-soul.

The parents’ contribution in the physical formation of the child is before birth. But G-d’s participation is necessary before, through and after birth. It is needed throughout life.

Thus, when G-d commands us to honor and fear our parents, who brought us into this world, He also tells us how we should honor Him, for His role in our existence. It is through the observance of the holy day of Shabbat.

How does observing Shabbat honor G-d? In the fourth commandment, G-d said, “Remember the day of Shabbat to keep it holy… For in six days G-d made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them and He rested on the seventh day, thus G-d blessed the day of Shabbat and made it holy.

Observing Shabbat and honoring parents are basically the same concept. We honor parents for they brought us into the world. We honor them because they are partners with G-d in our creation. By honoring them we also honor G-d as we give them special recognition for partnering with G-d. We honor G-d through observing Shabbat for it is testimony that G-d created the world.

SHABBAT SHALOM

Montreal candle lighting time: 7:38 / Shabbat ends: 8:46