Moses prefaced his instructions for the Temple by reminding the Jewish people that they must keep Shabbos. They must not let their enthusiasm for building the Temple lead them to transgress the prohibition of work on Shabbos.
Spiritually, every week is a repetition of the week of Creation: G‑d re-creates the world during the six workdays and “rests” every Shabbos. G‑d “rests” by re-experiencing the original idea that gave rise to the creation of the world. During the six original days of Creation, G‑d attended to the details of executing His designs; after the master architect completed His masterpiece, He surveyed it and reviewed it as the fulfillment of His plan, and it was good.
Thus, during the six workdays, the world is re-created by G‑d’s “creative and action” energy, whereas on Shabbos, the world is created by G‑d’s “resting and intellectual” energy.
Therefore, our task on Shabbos is not to work in rectifying creation, but to experience creation as the Divine dwelling we have worked to make it into during the week. We enter this state of consciousness by refraining from all the creative actions and work we do during the weekday.
To truly build a temple for G-d in our hearts and minds, it is sometimes necessary to refrain from the mundane and tune into the spirit.
Sincerely, Rabbi Mendel & Elke Zaltzman
Shabbos Times
Friday, March 8
Candle Lighting: 5:38pm Evening Service: 5:40pm
Saturday, March 9 Tanya Class 9:15am Morning Service: 10:00am Kiddush: 12:15pm Evening Service: 5:30pm Shabbat Ends: 6:39pm
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A BISSELE HUMOR
Yankel always worried about everything all his life. But one day his coworkers noticed Yankel seemed like a changed man. They remarked that he didn’t seem to be the least bit worried about anything. Yankel said he’d hired a professional worrier and no longer had any problems. “A professional worrier?" they said. "What does that cost?” “$150,000 a year.” "150k a year?! How on earth are you going to pay him? You are about to declare bankruptcy!" "Well that will be his first worry."
WEEKLY eTORAH
After breaking the first set of Tablets of Ten Commandments because Israel worshipped the Golden Calf, Moses ascends Mount Sinai and spends forty days there again, praying for forgiveness for his people. On Yom Kippur day his petition for pardon was granted, and he returns to his people. His first act on the next day was to "gather the entire congregation of Israel" and he told them the things that "G‑d commanded us to do." His first lesson was the observance of the Shabbat, singling out the creation of fire among all labor that was to be avoided on the Holy Day. Couldn't Moses have found something more ennobling to tell the Jews at that moment? They were filled with contrition for their idolatry. They had denied the basis of Judaism, belief in G‑d Himself, and now humbly sought to return to Him. It would have been more appropriate to lecture them on theology, expounding the concepts of ethical monotheism, stressing communion with the Creator through worship and meditation. This would be the logical way of vitiating the influence of the Calf-cult, of insuring against a repetition of backsliding. Here we find the constant refrain of Torah, the theme that permeates Judaism, that "not expounding is important, but deed." Judaism's shield against assimilation, the guarantor of Israel's integrity, is not its theology but its devotion to observance of mitzvot, carrying out G‑d's will in daily living. Israel's ability to withstand the golden calves of all sorts is embodied in the tefillin and Shabbat and dietary laws that make Torah as much a part of life as eating and making a living. Devotion to Judaism can be developed only through using Judaism, living it.
