In this week’s Torah portion, the Torah seems to make a grammatical error--a passive verb usage.
If the Torah was written [sic] in Microsoft Word, the rather annoying green squiggly line would declare: “Passive Usage of Verb – Consider Revising”
The Torah teaches us that despite the command to build the Tabernacle, the Shabbat dictated rest remains in force. “Sheshet Yamim Te’ase Melacha – for six days your work shall be done…”
Why ‘shall be done’? What is the matter with saying simply Ta’ase Melacha-- You Shall Do Work?”
A Chassidic Story is told about the Fifth Rebbe, Rabbi Sholom Ber of Lubavitch. A certain Chassid, who faced challenges in his galoshes manufacturing business, came to the Rebbe for advice. For those under 30, galoshes are your grandfather’s rubber rain coverings for his dress shoes. The Rebbe heard out his kvetching in full detail and was quite shocked that this Chassid was so absorbed with his business plan, that he had forgotten entirely about the Divine Plan--his spiritual wellbeing and growth. This man was totally consumed!
Patiently waiting for the Chassid to finish his lament, The Rebbe offered a one word in his response: “Amazing!”
The Chassid was taken aback. “What does the Rebbe mean? What is amazing?”
The Rebbe responded: “This I’ve never seen! I have seen feet in galoshes before…but a head in galoshes?!
Our lives are fragmented. We live in the real word, and we engage it fully. We carry around our magnetic access cards – a corporate identity superimposed over our unique identities. Who am I? A father, a husband, a wife, a mother – or am I a corporate slave? Where does my spiritual life fit into the melee of life?
So what is the solution to the fragmentation? The ultimate ’defrag program’ called Shabbat.
Shabbat lines up our files, and optimizes our systems. But more importantly, it enables us to go out in the world with our inner Shabbat intact. It allows us to have our work “be done”, leaving us free to explore our inner essence. The beating heart of our Jewish Soul.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yisroel Hecht