The Ohr Hachaim asks, why the Torah adds another command to Klal Yisroel that they keep Shabbos. Additionally, what does the Torah mean with the words לַעֲשוֹתִאֶתִהַשַב ת – to make the Shabbos? How is this different from their obligation to keep and guard the Shabbos?
The Ohr Hachaim’s first explanation is that this possuk commands Klal Yisroel to be sure to make Shabbos on the correct day. They must act to ensure that the days do not become confused and that Shabbos is not moved to a different day.
וְשׁ מְרוִּבְנֵיִי שְר אֵלִאֶתִהַשַב ת – Klal Yisroel should guard Shabbos, the day that has been sanctified for its laws, לַעֲשוֹת ִאֶת ִהַשַב ת – to make the true Shabbos. A person should not forget the Mitzvos of Shabbos and the day of Shabbos.
The Ohr Hachaim explains this possuk in another way. The Torah writes ואביוִשמרִאתִהדבר – and his father guarded the matter. In this context, this means that his father (Yaakov Avinu) waited and hoped for the matter to take place.
A person should guard the Shabbos, meaning he should not view Shabbos as a burdensome yoke and an uncomfortable obligation, preventing him from doing what he wants and enjoying his life as he wishes. A person must greet Shabbos happily, with hope and anticipation. He should eagerly await the arrival of Shabbos.
However, the purpose of this hope is not to rest from the difficulties of the week and to eat special foods. He should do so because Shabbos is a holy day, a day on which he serves Hashem all day.
וְשׁ מְרוִּבְנֵיִי שְר אֵלִאֶתִהַשַב ת – Klal Yisroel should guard Shabbos, eagerly anticipating its arrival, לַעֲשוֹתִאֶתִהַשַב ת – to make the true Shabbos, the Shabbos of holiness and cleaving to Hashem.
Another explanation of the Ohr Hachaim’s is based on the Gemara that teaches us that a person is obligated to add time from the weekday onto Shabbos. He should not just cease working as Shabbos draws near; rather, he should prepare himself to experience the holiness of Shabbos, greeting it like a Chassan greets his Kallah. He should then sit and await the Shabbos, with all of his preparations finalized in advance. This also means that the time added to the Shabbos is making the Shabbos; Hashem agrees with the person, and the person actually makes a Shabbos on his own.
The Ohr Hachaim has yet another explanation. The Medrash says that Shabbos complained to Hashem that every day has his partner, and Shabbos does not. Hashem answered him, “Klal Yisroel will be your partner.” Shabbos was missing one piece to achieve perfection, and its connection to Klal Yisroel achieves that perfection.
Klal Yisroel are to keep Shabbos, in order to make the Shabbos. By keeping Shabbos, we repair and make Shabbos, by adding the final ingredient to its perfection.
