That’s Where He Can Be Found

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

Shabbos is where Hashem can be found.

It’s written: “And Hashem completed on the Seventh Day.”

What was the completion of the creation? Everything was complete at the last moment before nightfall.

So, shouldn’t it say, “Hashem completed on the Seventh Night”?

This would be more accurate, but the Torah didn’t write it, because it’s not a correct expression. Shabbos doesn’t have night, it is all day!

Nowhere in the Torah does it speak of the night of Shabbos, only the day.

Yomim tovim have nights and days. We take lulav on Succos day not night.

We blow shofar Rosh Hashanah day, not night.

But Shabbos has no distinction between night and day.

That’s because night — the blanket of dark that conceals G-d from us – isn’t present during Shabbos.

For 24 hours, only light – along with Hashem — can be found everywhere you look.

What does this mean, practically?

When a person wants to attain Torah, Shavuos is the time for that.

If he requires joy, Succos is the time.

Freedom — Pesach.

And if what we’re looking for is Hashem, then Shabbos is the time, when there is no darkness to hide Him from us.

What does it mean “to look for Hashem?”

People in trouble seek Hashem desperately.

They cry and beg. But is this davening with true kavanah?

Kavanah doesn't mean fervently telling Hashem how badly we need something.

Increasing kavanah means increasing our awareness of Who Hashem is.

We recognize His powers and appreciate what only He can do.

If a person goes out and looks at all the parked cars and says, “Look how many nice cars there are; why do I have to drive a beat up car, Hashem?” That’s not kavanah.

But if he says, “Hashem, You are so good and kind, can you also give me a nice car?” That is kavanah.

We need to speak to Hashem as a real live personality — this will lend our lives so much satisfaction, as we always have Whom to speak with.

Shabbos isn’t the time to request all of our needs, rather to increase our awareness of Hashem and build up our relationship.

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Let’s Reflect:

How can we find Hashem on Shabbos? Maybe we can go around and tell each other kindnesses Hashem has shown each one individually. We can also remind each other to just speak to Hashem throughout the day: Hashem, please let the cholent have good flavor. Hashem, thank You for that amazing Shabbos nap.

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