Even Shabbat, the day of rest, felt that way once. Isn't that incredible?
Our sages grappled with a question: why did God specifically bless Shabbat? Bereshit Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies on the Book of Genesis, offers some beautiful answers.
Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Dostai, joined by Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, offer compelling insights. The first explanation, shared by Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Dostai, is particularly poignant. They suggest that Shabbat needed God's blessing because it lacked a partner. Think about it: Sunday leads into Monday, Tuesday into Wednesday, Thursday anticipates Shabbat eve. Each day flows into another, connected, part of a pair. But Shabbat? Shabbat stands alone.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman offers a different perspective. For him, the blessing lies in Shabbat's unyielding consistency. It arrives, without fail, every seventh day. Unlike festivals, which can be postponed based on the declarations of the religious court determining the New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and new months (Rosh Chodesh) and even Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, can be moved if absolutely necessary. Shabbat is immutable. It can't be pushed aside. It's a constant in the rhythm of the universe.
But the most heartwarming interpretation comes from Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai. He portrays Shabbat as actually voicing its loneliness before God: "Master of the universe, all of them have partners, but I do not have a partner." Can you imagine Shabbat feeling left out?
And God, in His infinite compassion, responds: "The congregation of Israel is your partner."
Wow.
This divine promise, according to Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai, is echoed in the Ten Commandments. When God commands us to "Remember the Shabbat day to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8), He's reminding us of His promise to Shabbat. We, the people of Israel, are Shabbat's companion. We are the ones who embrace it, who give it meaning through our observance and rest.
So, when we light the candles, say the blessings, and gather with loved ones on Shabbat, we are not just fulfilling a commandment. We are fulfilling a cosmic partnership, a divine promise. We are giving Shabbat the companionship it craved, and in turn, Shabbat offers us a sanctuary, a moment of peace in a world that often feels too rushed and disconnected. What a beautiful and profound relationship!