RABBI YAKOV YOSEF SCHECHTER
“ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה” – “See, I place before you today a blessing and a curse.”
The Midrash says one must heed Shabbos Kodesh, as it is equivalent to the entire Torah.
It says in Devorim Rabbah 4:4 that both the soul and Torah are compared to a lamp. The soul - Mishlei 20:27 “נר ד נשמת אדם” – “A man’s soul is the lamp of Hashem.” The Torah - Mishlei 6:23 “כי נר מצוה ותורה אור” – “For a Mitzvah is a lamp, and the Torah is light.” Hashem said to man: My lamp is in your hand, and your lamp is in My hand. If you safeguard My lamp, then I will safeguard your lamp, but if you extinguish My lamp, I will extinguish your lamp.
A lamp, a fire, always goes upwards, always seeking to return to its source, which is above. Similar to this, the Nefesh is called a נר, a lamp, for it too comes from Above and it too wants to return to its source – Above. That is why we perform Mitzvos and Ma’asim Tovim, so that we can get the Nefesh to have a life source down here – and thus remain down here in this world.
The Torah Hakdoshah is also compared to a נר. It says in Shemos Rabbah 41:5 “ויתן אל משה ככלתו” – that the Torah was given to Klal Yisroel as Kallah to the Chosson, a bride to the groom. Klal Yisroel is to look at the Torah as their Kallah. That which a Kallah has a great desire to be with her Chosson, the Torah has a great desire to be with Klal Yisroel – that Klal Yisroel should learn it and follow it. The completion of the Torah is being studied and followed by Klal Yisroel. Similarly, Klal Yisroel are called the Kallah of Hashem.
Klal Yisroel have a great desire to be complete – and the way they are complete are by attaching themselves to Hashem. The Torah was created because of Klal Yisroel. It says in the Tana D’vei Eliyahu that the Torah is compared to an elderly wise servant of the king who teaches wisdom to the prince. The Torah teaches Klal Yisroel wisdom, and through the spreading of the Torah in this world, it illuminates the world. Thus, the Torah is also called a נר. This is the Inyan of Ner Shabbos. (שם משמואל)
It says in the Torah, “וביום השביעי שבת וינפש” – the word, “נפש” is a Lashon of רצון, desire. Bereishis 23:8 “אם יש את נפשכם” – which is translated as if you have the desire. On Shabbos Kodesh, Hashem has a great desire for His nation, Klal Yisroel. We, Klal Yisroel, are the object of Hashem’s desire, as we say in Kiddush, “ורצה בנו” – that Hashem has a desire for us. “כמים פנים אל פנים ” Hashem has a great desire for us, and we in turn have a great desire for Him. When the Kedusha of Shabbos Kodesh comes, Klal Yisroel can feel the bright light, for it is good, and they have a great Tshukah, desire, for their Father in Heaven. Klal Yisroel throw away all of the worries and issues that refrain them from truly coming close to Hakodosh Boruch Hu. On Shabbos Kodesh, Klal Yisroel truly come close to Hakodosh Boruch Hu, and they are called, the Kallah, as we say, “לכה דודי לקראת כלה” – and this is all alluded to by the Ner Shabbos, the light that brings forth the Kedusha.
