By Rebbetzin Chaya Sora Gertzulin
I recently heard a true- life story that spoke volumes. It was in the mid-70s when a young successful entrepreneur went to the Lubavitcher Rebbe zt”l for a bracha. A bracha for continued success, good health and happiness, tranquility at home and peace of mind. For an all-in-all good life.
The Rebbe listened and gazed intently into the young man’s eyes. “You want Hashem’s blessings, but what are doing for Hashem. Do you keep kosher?” The young man lowered his eyes and quietly answered no. “Do you keep Shabbos?” Another no. The Rebbe continued. “If I ask you to do just one thing, will you commit?”
His Personal Na’aseh v’nishma Moment
He wanted the bracha, badly. One thing he could handle, he reasoned. He looked up and answered in the affirmative, like the Jewish people at Sinai, who answered na’aseh v’nishma, we will do and will listen. He too committed to doing before even knowing what the one thing was. It was his personal na’aseh v’nishma moment.
The Rebbe told the “bracha seeker” to observe Shabbos and bring Shabbos to his table. To light candles and make Kiddush. To stay home and make family time. To make time for Hashem. The Rebbe then gave him a bracha for hatzlacha, good health, happiness and nachas.
Together with his wife, they brought Shabbos into their lives. Every Friday night, whether he was home or away, nothing got in the way. No business meetings, no sporting events, no social engagements. One Friday night led to another, and he began to see the realization of the Rebbe’s brachos. His children grew up knowing that Friday night was special and sacred, reserved for a spiritual connection to Hashem.
How sagacious the Rebbe was. To start this man on his journey with just one thing to do—one thing that held the family together and tethered them to Hashem and His Torah. The bracha seeker realized that as his children grew older, they would be living their own lives. If not for the Rebbe’s advice, their Friday nights would mean hanging out with friends, running to the mall, or going out to movies or restaurants. How happy he was to have brought Shabbos into his, and their lives.
The Talmud (Shabbos 118b) teaches, “Kol ha’me’aneg es ha’Shabbos—Whoever delights in the Shabbos, nosnin lo mish’alos leebo, he is granted his heart’s wishes.” The Gemara is quick to cite a verse from Tehillim (37:4) that delighting in Shabbos refers to taking delight in Hashem.
In Parshas Yisro, we read of Hashem giving the Aseres HaDibros to Klal Yisroel at Sinai. It is a monumental moment in time, never to be repeated in the annals of history. A moment for all eternity.
The fourth commandment is the mitzva of Shabbos. “Zochor es yom HaShabbos l’kadsho—Remember the Shabbos Day and keep it holy” (Shemos 20:8). Zachor, to remember. Rashi comments, “T’nu lev lizkor tamid—Set your heart to remember it constantly.” Rashi further explains that we should keep Shabbos in mind as we go about our daily routine. We should try to emulate Shammai Ha’Zaken (the Elder), for whenever he spotted something special during the week, he would purchase it and set it aside for Shabbos.
Erev Shabbos is a time for Shabbos prep. As the rabbis teach, “Mi shetarach b’erev Shabbos yochal b’Shabbos— One who exerts effort on Friday, shall eat on Shabbos” (Avodah Zarah 3a). Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev explains that by spending time preparing for a mitzva, one shows how precious the mitzva is to him, how much importance he affords it, and his eagerness to fulfill it the right way. Preparing for Shabbos is one such example.
Preparing for Shabbos, even doing mundane acts, should never be considered beneath one’s dignity. On the contrary, it brings a person honor. We learn that even if one has household help, it is a mitzvah to personally prepare something for Shabbos. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 250:1) tells us about great sages who engaged in various chores in preparation for Shabbos. Rav Chida would cut up vegetables; Rabbah and Rav Yosef chopped wood; Rav Zeira would light the fire; and Rav Nachman would clean the house and bring out the Shabbos dishes, while putting away the weekday utensils.
It was not only gedolim of yesteryear, but today’s leaders as well. There is a heartwarming clip of Rav Dovid Feinstein zt”l, as an elderly man, shopping for Shabbos. It shows him picking up each fruit, to see if it is up to par for Shabbos.
“I’m Shopping for Shabbos”
Rav Shimshon Pincus zt”l writes that we prepare for Shabbos as if Shabbos was a “real person.” While we don’t say, “I’m shopping for Monday,” “I’m cooking for Tuesday,” we do say, “I’m shopping for Shabbos,” “I’m cooking for Shabbos.” Rav Pincus explains that when we ready our homes for Shabbos, we are inviting in the Shechinah, the Divine Presence of Hashem. Every Shabbos comes with the opportunity to grow spiritually, to become closer to Hashem. A time not just for us to eat and drink, but a time to elevate and nourish our neshama.
A Wonderful Gift in My Treasure House
The Gemara relates that HaShem told Moshe “Matana tova yesh li b’beis g’nazai, v’Shabbos shemoh—I have a wonderful gift in My treasure house, and Shabbos is its name” (Shabbos 10b). My mother, Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis a”h, wrote in her book, The Committed Life, “If we embrace the Shabbos, if we allow the Shabbos to take hold of our lives, then G-d lifts us up and invites us into His private chambers. And so, every Shabbos that is truly observed is a taste of the World to Come.”
Hashem is Sending Us a Message
The war of October 7 began on Shabbos. Even the secular day, October “7,” hints to Shabbos. Hashem is sending us a message: to strengthen ourselves through observing Shabbos. So many have understood this and have newly committed, or enhanced their commitment, to Shabbos. We derive strength from the words of Dovid HaMelech in Tehillim, Mizmor l’Dovid, which we sing every Shabbos: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Tehillim 23:4).
May Shabbos elevate us in the unique ways only it can, and bring blessing to every aspect of our lives.
Reprinted from the Parshas Yisro 5785 edition of the TorahAnytimes Newsletter.