Shabbos Is Equal to All Mitzvos
לזכר נשמות 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
Rav Elazar bar Avina said:
We find it written in the Torah… that Shabbos is equal to all of the mitzvos. Hashem said to Bnei Yisrael: If you are worthy and keep Shabbos, I consider it as though you kept all the mitzvos. And if you desecrate it, I consider it as though you desecrated all the mitzvos in the Torah.
Shabbos is so important, it equals everything else put together.
How can we merit the greatness of Shabbos?
Every Yom Tov has its special mitzvah, what is the special mitzvah of Shabbos? And how can we perform it to bring the unique kedushah of Shabbos into our homes?
There is one mitzvah: “and on the sixth day, they prepared what they bought.”
Rav Shimshon holds that the mitzvah on Shabbos is to remember that today is Shabbos: Zachor es yom HaShabbos lakadsho.
The pasuk describes another aspect of the mitzvah, as well. In the midbar, Bnei Yisrael prepared the mahn that fell on Friday, making it ready for use on Shabbos.
Chazal explain there’s more to it than easy Shabbos use, like precut silver foil. It was teaching us that there’s a mitzvah for every Jew, no matter where or when, to prepare for Shabbos.
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Let’s Reflect:
How can we prepare for an elevating Shabbos in our homes, in honor of our mitzvah to prepare?
Making delicious foods, cleaning certain areas, ensuring couches and tables are accessible for family times and children playing.
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We learned that we have a mitzvah to prepare for Shabbos, to shine our shoes and set the table. Pesach has matzah, Succos has lulav and esrog. Is the mitzvah of Shabbos just to prepare? Shabbos, which is equal to all other mitzvos?
No, preparing fish will not enable us to attain the holiness of Shabbos. Neither will anything else…
Shabbos is a gift from Hashem.
The only way to receive it? Want it.
We do not have to generate Kedushas Shabbos on our own through esrogim and matzos; Kedushas Shabbos is a gift from Hashem. It is given to anyone who truly, deeply wants it.
Bnei Yisrael in the depths of muck in Mitzrayim reached unheard of levels because “vnizaak – they cried out.”
They wanted to leave so badly.
The four-fifths who died during Makkas Choshech were guilty of just one thing… they didn’t really want to leave. As terrible as the galus was, they were comfortable with what they knew.
And the same holds true today: we will merit the geulah only if we truly want it. The Chofetz Chaim illustrates this point with a story about Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, the Beis HaLevi.
The delegation from the city of Brisk kept urging him to be their rav, but he kept refusing.
Only when someone pointed out that a city of 30,000 Jews was eagerly awaiting him did he agree to come.
So it will be with Mashiach.
If Klal Yisrael eagerly awaits him as a whole, he will surely come.
And if we would truly cry out to Hashem, then He will surely save us.
And that is how it works with Kedushas Shabbos.
When we truly want it, that’s when it will come to us
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Let’s Reflect:
How can we show Hashem how much we truly want Shabbos, to ensure that we receive it? Let’s discuss it with our children, creating a countdown. Or in the words of Uncle Moishy, six days a week we wait for Shabbos! Let the excitement be tangible!
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