The Importance of Shabbat

8/13/2019 The Importance of Shabbat

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The importance of Shabbat Part One: HaTikvah

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By Shlomo Phillips 12.29.10 (last updated 07.15.2013)

God's title HaShem reminds us that He along is King over all kings. His Queen is Shabbat, theSabbath.

In our Siddur (Jewish prayer books) we welcome the weekly Shabbat (Sabbath) with the Lechadodi (Come My Beloved) prayer:

Lecha dodi likrat kalah penei Shabbat nekabela!

"Come my Beloved to greet the bride, the Sabbath presence, let us welcome!"

The importance and sanctity of Shabbat can not be over stated because it is the Day of the DivineBride. Shabbat is not a man made holiday based on the determination of some counsel of priests.Rather, HaShabbat was set apart for special observance by God Himself! As we read in theTorah:

Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, along with everything in them.2 On the seventh day God was finished with his work which he had made, so he rested on theseventh day from all his work which he had made.3 God blessed the seventh day and separated it as holy; because on that day God rested from all

his work which he had created, so that it itself could produce.

Shabbat, the Sabbath or seventh day, stands unique among the days of the week. While inHebrew the other days are identified by numbers (Day One, Day Two etc) Shabbat is named.Shabbat was specifically set apart as holy ( kodesh in the Hebrew) by God Himself. Of this wordkodesh we read:

A primitive root; to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially ormorally): - appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare,

proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied one, self), X wholly (Strong's: H6942).

Rebbe Nachman of Breslov says:

The joy of Shabbat is the gateway to true freedom -- Likutey Moharan II, 17

Sing many songs at the Shabbat table. Pay no attention to any obstacles. Others at the table mayshow little desire to sing, but you should still do your part. Make a determined effort to singhappily. Conduct the Shabbat table in a happy mood, because the main thing is the joy ofShabbat -- Sichot Haran #155.
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Shabbat is the most important and the most joyous ritual observance in biblical religion.Observing Shabbat is the sign that one is in a covenant relationship with HaShem.Exodus 31:13 "And you, speak to the children of Israel and say: 'Only keep My Sabbaths! For itis a sign between Me and you for your generations, to know that I, the Lord, make you holy.

When to honor Shabbat:

According to both the Torah and ancient Jewish tradition new days begin at sunset:

Genesis 1:5 ...So there was evening, and there was morning, one day.1:8 ... So there was evening, and there was morning, a second day.1:13 So there was evening, and there was morning, a third day.

Shabbat, the seventh day of the week, is therefore sunset Friday to nightfall Saturday accordingto our present calendars. While different calendars have been used over the years the Jewish

people have always remembered HaShabbat. Modern Western calendars coincide with the

biblical week.

Psalms 55:6 But I will call on God, and ADONAI will save me.17 Evening, morning and noon I complain and moan; but he hears my voice.

Daniel 6:10 On learning that the document had been signed, Daniel went home. The windows ofhis upstairs room were open in the direction of Yerushalayim; and there he kneeled down threetimes a day and prayed, giving thanks before his God, just as he had been doing before.

As we read at Judaism 101: All Jewish holidays [including Sabbath] begin the evening before the date specified on mostcalendars. This is because a Jewish "day" begins and ends at sunset, rather than at midnight. If

you read the story of creation in Genesis Ch. 1, you will notice that it says, "And there wasevening, and there was morning, one day." From this, we infer that a day begins with evening,that is, sunset. Holidays end at nightfall of the date specified on most calendars; that is, at thetime when it becomes dark out, about an hour after sunset.

For this reason we lift up our prayers just before sunset (traditionally 18 minutes before sunset soas not to miss even a second of the sacred time). HaShem is so kind that He begins the day byallowing us rest. Then we arise with the sun, perform our activities, and return to a state of restand reflection on His goodness as the day ends and the next begins.

Why we honor Shabbat:

Both Torah versions of the Ten Commandments include the commandment ( mitzvah ) to honorShabbat. These commandments ( mitzvot ) instruct us that honoring Shabbat involves twointerrelated commandments:

To Remember ( zakhor ) Shabbat: "Remember the day, Shabbat, to set it apart for God"
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o Hebrew: Zakhor et yom ha-Shabbat l'kad'sho - Exodus 20:8. This commandmentincludes more than merely remembering to observe the weekly tradition. Itrequires us to remember why we observe the Sabbath.

Sabbath observance reminds us of how HaShem led His people out of Egyptian

slavery during the days of Moses (Moshe) and the Exodus. From theirexperiences we catch a glimpse of how God leads us out of the forms of bondagewe face in our own lives.

To Observe ( shamor ) Shabbat: "Observe the day of Shabbat, to set it apart as holy"

o Hebrew: Shamor et yom ha-Shabbat l'kad'sho - Deuteronomy 5:12. Thiscommand (or mitzvot ) tells us to observe Shabbat properly and with full intention.We are to view the seventh day as holy (again, as kodesh in the Hebrew), as a dayset apart for spiritual and restful activities. All week long we struggle in the worldas it is (the Olam HaZeh ), but on Shabbat we celebrate the world as it will be (in

the Olam Haba ) once the Kingdom of HaShem is established 'on Earth as it is inHeaven' and HaMoshiach (the Messiah) takes his seat on the Throne of David hisfather (Isaiah 11)!

Shabbat then is the expression of our emunah (active faith) that one day Israel will be fully restored and global peace will be established under their reign ofHaMoshiach. With HaTikvah (the Glorious Hope) how could we not be joyous onShabbat! All week long we look forward to Shabbat, knowing that one day theeternal Shabbat will appear!

And yet some do not understand that Shabbat is truly our joy. For this reason we

will look at What Shabbat is not as we continue this study.
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The Importance of Shabbat