B"H

Tuesday, 21 Adar 1, 5776 / March 1, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

In last week’s Parsha, Ki Tisa, and again at the beginning of this week’s Parsha, Vayakhel, Moshe reminds the Jewish people of the importance of the mitzvah of observing Shabbat.

In Ki Tisa, G-d tells Moshe, "My Shabbat you shall guard ("Ushmartem") for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the L-rd Who sanctifies you."

In this week’s Parsha, Vayakhel, Moshe tells the people, “Six days work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you, a day of complete rest for G-d.”

Because Moshe is about to tell them, in this Parsha, about the specifics of the building of the Mishkan, he again reminds them that even for such a great mitzvah as the building of the Mishkan, they cannot desecrate the holy day of Shabbat.

Why does the Torah use the expression, "My Shabbat you shall guard"?  What is the meaning of "guarding Shabbat"?

Our sages explain this concept with the following parable:  A wealthy man bought very expensive material at the fair and gave it to a tailor to make a suit and coat for his son.   When the tailor finished the pants, he brought it to the father who proudly gave it to his son. 

The boy tried on the new pants, then went out to play.  Before long the boy came home crying.  He wasn't careful and, as a result, he dirtied and tore his pants.  The same thing happened when the tailor brought the vest and jacket.

When the tailor finally brought the coat, the father called his son and said, "You were negligent and damaged the first garments. Please guard this garment, for this coat is all that remains from the expensive cloth which I originally bought!"

The same is with Shabbat.  When G-d created the world, everything was perfect. The Torah tells us that when He examined His creation on each of the six days, "G-d saw that it was good." Adam and Eve were created on the sixth day, they were also perfect and resided in Gan Eden - Paradise.

Later on that day, Adam and Eve sinned. Like the story with the boy, their action had such great negative impact that it tarnished all the six days and everything created during those days. The only day which was not affected by their sin was the seventh day - Shabbat, for it had not come yet.

Just like in the story where the father pleads with his son to "guard" the coat, so too, G-d says, "Guard the Shabbat for it is holy". Shabbat is the only day of the week which stayed in its pure original form, so make sure to keep it that way.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY