The marvelous invention of the Shabbos, a day on which we put our stressful lives on hold and dedicate a day to our souls, our loved ones, and our spiritual growth, is introduced in this week’s portion, the opening section of the Torah.
“And G-d saw all that He had made [during the six days of creation], and, behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus, the heaven and the Earth were completed, and all their array. G-d completed, on the seventh day, His work, which He had done, and He abstained on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He ceased from all His work.”
The contradiction is striking. On the one hand, the Torah states that G-d “abstained on the seventh day from all His work which He had done; G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it He ceased from all His work.” This would mean that G-d completed His work on the sixth day, followed by a day of rest. Yet the very same verse declares that “G-d completed His work on the seventh day,” meaning that He completed the work on the seventh, not on the sixth, day.
DIVINE PUNCTUALITY
The Midrash and Rashi offer the following explanation:
A human being, incapable of determining the precise moment of nightfall, can’t establish the exact moment when Friday ends and Saturday begins. Therefore, Jewish law obligates us to begin observing the Shabbos a short while before it begins. G-d, on the other hand, knows the exact moment when Friday merges into Shabbos, and therefore, on the first Friday of creation, He continued His work throughout the entire day, until the end of the very last moment before the Shabbos began. Since G-d would not cease building His world until the moment that Shabbos began, it appeared as if He completed His work on the Shabbos day itself. Because of this appearance, the verse states that G-d completed His work “on the seventh day,” since that is how it looked from a human vantage point.
But why? What was the purpose of G-d working all the way till Shabbos and making it appear that He was “violating” the holy day? What compelled G-d to give this false impression that He was laboring on the Shabbos? And why would the Torah be interested in relating this detail to us?
THE VALUE OF TIME
It is here that we are presented with one of the important contributions of Judaism to civilization: the value of time.
For six full days, G-d created a universe that is extraordinary in its magnitude and grandeur. During this week, the Creator fashioned a cosmos of endless mystery and limitless depth. One could not conceive of a more accomplished and successful week. Following such a fruitful and productive work week, as the sixth day was winding down, G-d had the full right to sit back and enjoy His grand achievement. The Torah comes and declares – no! As long as there was even one moment remaining during which the building of a world could continue, G-d would not stop.
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TIME
We, too, are builders of the world, in the lovely Talmudic phrase, “Partners of the Divine in the work of creation.” G-d built a physical world out of Divine energy. Our job is to build spiritual energy out of a physical world, to transform the universe into a moral and sacred space, saturated with light and goodness.
The Torah comes and teaches us that even if you have already employed your strengths to build a beautiful world, even if you have affected many people, ignited many hearts, and touched many souls, as long as you have the capacity to construct one more heart, inspire one more soul, empower one more mind, and transform one more individual, do not cease from the sacred work.
The Torah comes and says: If you still have life in your bones, and there is one soul for whom you can make a difference, do not stop.
RABBI YY JACOBSON
MONDAY & THURSDAY Chassidus Shiur 7:45 AM(18 Main) TUESDAY Womens Shiur 9:30 AM (84 Viola Rd)
SHABBOS Friday Night – before Barchu (20 Upstairs)) Morning 8:40 AM (20 Upstairs) | After Davening 12:00 PM (20 Upstairs)
PLEASE NOTE: Rabbi Jacobson’s Shabbos morning shiur will now begin at 8:40 AM, followed by the Minyan at 10:00 AM.
