Shabbos Proclaims That the Creation Is Perfect
Performing Work Suggests “Something Is Lacking”
The Sefer Me’or Einayim teaches us a very important yesod regarding the mindset and the feeling of a Yid on the exalted day of Shabbos Kodesh.
He explains that the reason we’re commanded to abstain from work on Shabbos is that when a person engages in work, he essentially announces to the world that something is lacking, and he must do something to fill that lack. For example, when a person decides to bake bread, it’s because he’s hungry and would like to eat bread. The same applies to every מלאכה that a person does.
Prior to performing this task, he didn’t have what he needed, and his work is to ensure that he will have that which he lacked.
On Shabbos, We Lack Nothing
Says the Rebbe: Shabbos is the day that proclaims that the creation of Hashem is perfect, and there’s nothing lacking therein. To perform work would be contrary to this, and this is why it’s prohibited.
We must study and understand this a little deeper. Sometimes, a person will say, “Okay, it’s wonderful that you don’t feel that you lack anything—but I do have some things that I would like to obtain... I do lack things.” The Me’or Einayim teaches us that there’s a place in the world where we can all understand that, in truth, on a deeper level, we lack for nothing.
Throughout the weekdays, we’re allowed to feel lack. We’re permitted to engage in work. But on Shabbos, we must reach that place that lacks nothing, and thus, we’re prohibited from engaging in work that would proclaim the contrary.
Spiritual Satisfaction
He continues, “And for this reason, our sages have taught us (see Mechilta, Parashas Yisro) that we must feel as though all our work has been completed and that we lack nothing.” Chazal are teaching us that on this holy day, the Godliness of the Ribbono shel Olam is revealed in the world, and this automatically brings an aura of perfection to the world. Doing work would proclaim that a person is, chas v’shalom, not a part of Klal Yisrael.
For this reason, the Me’or Einayim explains, even the work of building the Mishkan was prohibited on Shabbos. For the entire purpose of the Mishkan was to serve as a resting place for the Shechinah in This World. But on Shabbos, there’s so much perfection of השכינה השראת in the world—there’s no lack of the Presence of the Shechinah at all—that building the Mishkan would be superfluous! We must feel that all our needs—even the spiritual ones—are perfectly satisfied!
Shabbos Illuminates Our Eyes to Understand That We Have Everything
Everything Is Included in the Shefa of Hashem
When we learn these words, the concept may be difficult to understand. At the end of the day, we all have needs and wants—and, in fact, we are enjoined to daven for the things that we lack. How can we be expected to feel that we lack nothing?
