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

Chazal tell us that Shabbos contains a secret.

Hashem said to Moshe Rabbeinu, “See that Hashem gave you Shabbos.”

This is strange. Why did Hashem need to inform us that He is giving us this gift? Didn’t we know it came from Him?

Said Rava bar Machesya in the name of Rav: Someone who gives his friend a gift must inform him. For it is written, regarding Shabbos, (Shemos 31:13) “to know that I, Hashem, am sanctifying you.” Hashem said to Moshe: “I have a good gift in My treasury, and it’s called Shabbos. I wish to give it to the people of Israel. Go and inform them.”

We learn a halachah from the above gemara.

If someone gives someone else a gift, he should include a card bearing his name, so the receiver will know who it came from. But if the recipient will recognize who gave him the gift, the gemara says there is no need to inform him.

Wouldn’t Am Yisrael recognize who gave them Shabbos? Why does Hashem have to specifically tell them?

In answer to this question, Chazal say there is an aspect of Shabbos that is hidden — its reward.

Shabbos offers a special reward that we don’t receive from any other mitzvah.

Of course we cannot fully fathom the depth or reward of any mitzvah, but in Shabbos there is something deeper and more exceptional.

The fact that Shabbos goes by so unutilized is itself proof that this day conceals a great secret.

Therefore, Hashem instructed Moshe to go and explicitly tell Bnei Yisrael about the gift of Shabbos, otherwise we never would have discovered its true depth.

The secret is described as a delightful gift that is found in Hashem’s treasury. Shabbos is like a diamond, a precious jewel guarded from public view. Hashem didn’t show it to everybody; He only showed the beauty of Shabbos Kodesh to the people of Israel. He said to them, “Look, this is my wonderful Shabbos.”

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Let’s Reflect:

How can we treat Shabbos like the gift it is? Build the excitement in the home, the anticipation? Is everyone involved, is everyone working together to make the most of this special gift? How can we include every household member in this weekly endeavor?

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