Coming Close

The Shelah wrote that sleeping on Shabbat is pleasure (oneg) but only in correct measure, because Shabbat is really for learning Torah! The Midrash says that the Torah stood before G‑d and complained, "Master of the universe, when the Jewish people will enter the Land, one will run to his orchard, and someone else to his field, and what will be with me?" Answered the Almighty, "I have a match that I will pair up with you, and Shabbat is her name. On the day the Jewish people refrain from their work they can be involved with you."

The Shelah continues: "And Moses gathered together the Jewish people". (Ex. 35:1) Midrash Tanchuma notes that from the beginning of the Torah until the end, no chapter begins with gathering the people except this one. Why?

While still on Mount Sinai, G‑d said to Moses, "Go down and gather large groups together for the sake of Shabbat." This is so that all future generations will learn that they should gather together in the synagogues and study halls on Shabbat and study Torah in groups. In addition to this, G‑d said to the Jews, "If you will gather together every Shabbat and read from the Torah and the Prophets, I ascribe merit to you as though you made Me king in My world". This is as the prophet Isaiah says, "You are my witness, and I am your G‑d"; (Ex. 43:12) this is as if to say that by reading from the Torah, we are testifying that G‑d is master of the world. In fact, each person is obligated to learn new Torah teachings every Shabbat; each Saturday night when the extra Shabbat soul we are granted returns to its heavenly source, G‑d asks, "What new Torah idea did you learn this Shabbat?"

Based on the word "vayakhel", meaning "to gather" in Hebrew, the Lubavitcher Rebbe emphasized the effort required of us to reveal every creation's true essence and purpose. Through this we will "gather" all of reality to be united in serving the Creator. To successfully reveal the unity of Creation, we must begin with unifying the Jewish people. We must gather together, express our love for one another, and refrain from being critical of each other. We thereby reveal that we are essentially one, parts of One Divine Essence. Then we will succeed in uniting the world. Not only that, but truly bringing ourselves to this state is the preparation for the final gathering, the gathering of all of the exiles together which will happen when Mashiach comes, may it happen immediately.

Shabbat Shalom, Shaul

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