#210: Machshavah
According to Rav Shimshon Pincus, refraining from work on Shabbat is a powerful expression of faith. It reflects our belief that Hashem is the One who controls our sustenance. We believe that Hashem will provide for us even when we refrain from working to observe His command.
Building on this, Rav Pincus offers a deeper perspective on a line we recite every Friday night in Lecha Dodi: “Ki hi mekor haberacha”—Shabbat is the source of blessing. Rav Pincus explains that this is not merely poetic language; rather, it should be understood quite literally. Shabbat is the spiritual spring from which all material and spiritual blessings flow into the rest of the week.
“Shabbat is called the source of blessing, and this means exactly what its simple meaning implies—like a person who has a spring in the middle of his garden, and from there he draws water to irrigate the entire garden. So too, Hashem made Shabbat the spring and source of blessing for all bounty, life, and holiness in the world. On the seventh day, the world is infused with the life force needed to sustain the next six days. Everything that exists afterward is rooted in what flows from Shabbat.
But in truth, Shabbat is not the source of anything—Hashem is the ultimate source of all. So what is the meaning of calling Shabbat the source? It is the day on which Hashem’s kingship is revealed and His presence spreads into the world. Shabbat is the gateway through which His holiness enters our lives.”
From this we learn a vital lesson: success in business or in any area of life does not occur despite our Shabbat observance, but because of it. By keeping Shabbat and recognizing the true source of our livelihood, we open ourselves to receive Hashem’s blessing more fully and deeply.
Shabbat is not a break from success—it is the very foundation of it.
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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.
