What
Makes Shabbat the Heart of My Torah Journey?
Everything on
my journey in the Torah world has revolved around Shabbat. In my search for truth,
it was lighting my first Shabbat candles that truly brought me home. I still
remember my very first Shabbat at the Diaspora Yeshiva in the Old City in 1980.
I was led to a room where two silver candlesticks awaited me. An older student
gently guided me through the blessing, and as I lit the candles, something
profound happened. The glow of the Shabbat lights transformed the world before
me. The room radiated holiness and serenity, as though I had entered a higher
realm of existence. In that moment, I realized that the expanded consciousness
I had been seeking all along was right here, within my own tradition. I had
never expected to find such clarity in what had always been mine. For the first
time, I saw truth—not as something distant, but as something to which I deeply
belonged. I would continue learning, exploring, and growing alongside others on
the same path. I had finally come home. Shabbat also led me to my husband. He
first noticed me as we crossed paths – he was leaving the dining hall with the
guys just as I arrived for the girls’ lunch hour. When a yeshiva couple later
asked him if there was anyone he would like to meet, he mentioned me. And so,
we were introduced at their Shabbat table. After the meal, he walked me home,
and from that night on, our daily walks through the Old City became our own
journey. We traced every arch and winding gateway, discovering the roads that
led not just through Jerusalem but to each other’s hearts. After just five
months at the yeshiva, we announced our engagement. We were one of many couples
married under the magnificent chuppah, hand-woven by the women of the yeshiva,
its fabric adorned with the symbols of the twelve tribes. In what felt like a
whirlwind, I was transformed – from a girl experiencing her first Shabbat to an
observant Jewish woman who would provide so many others with their first Shabbat
experience.
Why Is Observing Shabbat in the Land of Israel the
Ultimate Spiritual Experience?
I am not alone in experiencing the profound
connection between the holiness of Shabbat and the sanctity of the Land of
Israel. Nowhere else have so many of us encountered the same elevated dimension
of Shabbat as in Eretz Yisrael. While Shabbat reflects the holiness of time,
the Land of Israel embodies the holiness of space. When these two dimensions of
sanctity intersect, they create a spiritual gateway beyond time and space. Since
the pinnacle of holiness in space is the Beit HaMikdash (Temple), it is no
wonder that my early Shabbat experiences in the Old City of Jerusalem – overlooking
the Temple Mount – remain unforgettable. Rav Kook expresses this idea
beautifully: “The holiness of space fills the entire world, yet it remains
hidden and invisible. The secret waves of holiness push endlessly forth towards
their destined revelation until they find expression through the Land of
Israel, the pinnacle of all the dust of the universe, and from there to the
holy spot, the Holy Temple, and the Rock of Foundation – ‘Out of Zion, the
epitome of beauty, God has appeared’” (Orot HaKodesh, Vol. 2, p. 303,
The illumination of holiness in the world). Similarly, Rav Kook explains
that Shabbat serves as the wellspring from which all sacred moments flow: “The
holiness of time spreads across eternity… until it is revealed at the holy
times, through the holiness of Shabbat, which is the origin of all the holy
times and emanates with holiness toward the entire world and toward Israel”
(Ibid.). Thus, observing Shabbat in the Land of Israel elevates our spiritual
experience, as both Shabbat and the Land embody a state of holiness and rest
reflecting ultimate Divine unity. This synergy deepens our connection to
Hashem, amplifying the sanctity inherent in both time and space.
How does Keeping Shabbat in the Land Align Us With the Cosmic Rhythm
of Holiness?
Parashat Vayakhel opens with a mitzvah to observe Shabbat:
ספר שמות פרק לה פסוק ב
שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים
תֵּעָשֶׂה מְלָאכָה וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי יִהְיֶה לָכֶם קֹדֶשׁ שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן
לַהַשֵׁם כָּל הָעֹשֶׂה בוֹ מְלָאכָה יוּמָת:
“Six days work may be done, but on the
seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a day of complete rest to Hashem;
whoever performs work thereon [on this day] shall be put to death” (Shemot 35:2).
The juxtaposition of Shabbat and the Mishkan teaches that while
building a dwelling place for Hashem is sacred, it must not override the
sanctity of Shabbat (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 49b). Similarly, the
Land of Israel is deeply tied to Shabbat observance. The Torah refers to the
land as “the land of your inheritance הַנַּחֲלָה/hanachala” (Devarim 12:9). Likewise, we call Shabbat an inheritance at
the end of Friday night Kiddush: בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ/b’ahavah uv’ratzon hinchaltanu – “In love and favor You have
given us Your holy Shabbat as an inheritance.” This
profound relationship encourages a holistic approach to spirituality, where
honoring Shabbat and cherishing the Land of Israel are seen as complementary
paths to deepening our bond with the Divine. Engaging in Shabbat observance
within the land not only fulfills mitzvot but also aligns us with the cosmic
rhythm of holiness that defines Jewish people. Through these lenses, Shabbat
and the Land of Israel are not merely mitzvot to observe or places to inhabit. They
are intertwined dimensions of sanctity that deepen our connection with Hashem,
drawing us into a more harmonious relationship with the Divine.
Why Does Shabbat Observance Protect the Land of Israel?
Shabbat observance and the Land of Israel are equally central in
our relationship with Hashem. They are intrinsically connected, as both are
called menucha (rest): “He (G-d) rested on the seventh day” (Shemot
20:11); “For you have not yet come to the resting place (menucha) and
the inheritance” … referring to the land of Israel (Devarim 12:9). True
rest – both physical and spiritual – can only be achieved on Shabbat in Eretz
Yisrael. The Torah promises that if the
Jewish people will preserve the menucha of Shabbat, then Hashem will
protect us in the Land. Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein emphasizes the significance
of Shabbat, particularly in challenging times when our existence in the Land of
Israel is threatened. He notes that Shabbat observance is directly linked to
our ability to dwell peacefully in the land, citing the verse from Yeshayahu: “If
you proclaim the Shabbat a delight… then you shall be granted pleasure with
Hashem, and I shall mount you astride the heights of the land; and I will
provide you the heritage of your forefather, Ya’acov” (Yeshayahu 58:13-14).
Rabbi Zilberstein illustrates this connection with a parable from the Dubno
Maggid, highlighting the consequences of neglecting Shabbat: The king had a
minister he favored due to his wise wife. When the king saw she was mistreated,
he decreed the minister’s execution, saying: “I only kept him alive because of
his wife. Now that he mistreats her, what use do I have for him?” In the same
way, Shabbat is our “queen,” and when she is neglected, Hashem’s protection
over Israel weakens. The lesson is clear: strengthening our Shabbat observance
secures our presence in the Land. Rabbi Zilberstein suggests learning two
halachot of Shabbat daily and inviting others to experience an authentic
Shabbat meal to inspire them. (Inspired by an Aish article: The Guiding
Light, by Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen). May
we all merit to safeguard Shabbat and, in turn, be safeguarded in the Land of
Israel!
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