According to some beautiful Jewish traditions, a little bit of heaven actually touches Earth on Shabbat.
Imagine this: when we keep the Sabbath, something amazing happens to our souls. They journey to Gan Eden – the Garden of Eden. As Tree of Souls (Howard Schwartz) tells us, on the Sabbath, Jewish souls ascend to this heavenly paradise. Think of it like a weekly spiritual recharge, a soul vacation.
Now, this Gan Eden isn't empty. It’s already inhabited by the "pure souls" – souls who, according to some traditions, never partook of the forbidden fruit. It's also home to the souls of the righteous, those who lived exemplary lives and now dwell in eternal bliss.
And what happens when our souls arrive? They bask in the radiant light of the Garden, experiencing the pure joy and love that emanates from the divine. They mingle, in a way, with these other souls, sharing in the supernal bliss that Sabbath brings.
This isn't just some abstract concept, either. This heavenly bliss is felt both "within and without the body," as the tradition says. It’s drawn into our world, imbuing everything with a special quality. You know that feeling of contentment, that deep sense of peace you sometimes get on Shabbat? That might just be a taste of Gan Eden.
There’s even a saying about it, found in B. Shabbat 119: "We have a certain spice; Sabbath is its name. Whoever keeps the Sabbath is affected by it and whoever does not keep the Sabbath is not affected by it." It's like the Sabbath has its own unique flavor, one that only those who observe it can truly appreciate.
Think about the Shabbat meal. Doesn’t it always taste better? Tradition says the flavor of the Sabbath is absorbed into the food we eat on that day. All of this, because while our bodies remain here on Earth, celebrating and resting, our souls are experiencing the celestial Paradise. As Hovat ha-Talmidim says, Gan Eden refers to that celestial paradise.
So, the next time you light the candles, say the blessings, and settle into the peace of Shabbat, remember that it’s not just a day of rest. It’s a portal, a connection to something infinitely greater. It’s a taste of Gan Eden, a reminder of the pure joy and love that awaits us. Maybe that is what the spice of the Sabbath is. A taste of another world, right here, right now.