This week’s parsha is parshas Yisro. The centerpiece of the reading on this auspiciously approaching Shabbas Kodesh is the revelation and giving of the Torah to Yisrael at Har Sinai, based on the Aseres HaDibros. With pleasure, we will focus on a teaching from our illustrious teacher, the Arizal, in Likutei Torah. He explains the juxtaposition of the fourth and fifth dibrot. The fourth is the mitzvas asei (Shemos 20, 8): "זכור את יום השבת לקדשו"—remember the day of Shabbas to sanctify it. It is immediately followed by the mitzvas asei (ibid. 12): "כבד את אביך ואת אמך"—honor your father and your mother.
According to the Zohar hakadosh (Shelach 173a), at the conclusion of every Shabbas, all the “neshamos yeteirot” of Yisrael return to heaven and present themselves to HKB”H. He asks them to relate to Him any chiddushim that they heard that Shabbas in Olam HaZeh. If, indeed, they heard novel insights and interpretations of the Torah—chiddushim—He invites the entire heavenly family of malachim to come and hear them from Him. As a reward, the father of the person who presented the chiddush is adorned with crowns.
Based on this, the Arizal explains the juxtaposition of the mitzvos of “remembering the Shabbas” and “honoring one’s father and mother.” Here are his sacred words:
ה זו לשבת, והוא כי חייב לחדש דברי "כבד את אביך, הנה סמך מצו תורה בשבת, וכשהבן מחדש דברי תורה מעטרין את האב בעטרות בעולם הבא, לזה סמך שהרוצה לכבד אביו ואמו יזכור ביום השבת ויחדש דברי תורה וזהו כבודם האמת".
Honoring one’s parents is juxtaposed to the mitzvah of Shabbas, because one is obliged to introduce novel Torah ideas on Shabbas. Thus, when a child introduces new Torah interpretations, they adorn the father with crowns in Olam HaBa. For this reason, these mitzvos are juxtaposed. For, if one wants to honor his father and mother, he should remember the day of Shabbas by introducing novel Torah ideas; that is the real way to honor them.
Apropos this matter, it is worthwhile presenting the wonderful suggestion of the brilliant Gaon Chida, ztz”l, brought down in Machzik Berachah (O.C. 290) in the name of the pious author of Da’as Chochmah; it is directed to anyone who is incapable of proposing Torah-related chiddushim. For HKB”H to derive pleasure from such a person’s “neshamah yeteirah,” he should learn things that he has not learned heretofore.
