It's more than just a day off; it's a taste of something truly divine. Bereshit Rabbah, a fascinating collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis, offers some beautiful insights. Let's dive in, shall we?
The verse "God blessed the seventh day [and sanctified it]" (Genesis 2:3) becomes a springboard for exploring the unique blessings of Shabbat. Rabbi Yishmael, in Bereshit Rabbah, suggests that God blessed Shabbat with the manna, the miraculous food that sustained the Israelites in the desert. All week, one omer of manna would fall per person, but on Friday, a double portion appeared! Why? An extra omer for Shabbat, of course! And He sanctified it by ensuring no manna fell on Shabbat itself. A built-in day of rest, provided by the Divine.
Rabbi Natan offers another perspective: He blessed it with manna, yes, but sanctified it with a blessing – perhaps the Shabbat blessing recited over a cup of wine, the kiddush. Rabbi Yitzḥak suggests yet another angle: He blessed it with manna and sanctified it through the story of the gatherer, the person who gathered wood on Shabbat and faced severe consequences (Numbers 15:32–36). This, Rabbi Yitzhak says, highlights the awesome and inviolable sanctity of Shabbat.
But the blessings don't stop there. We're told that Shabbat is blessed with apparel. Rav Huna says we should change our clothing, transitioning from everyday wear into special Shabbat garb. Rabbi Ḥiyya, quoting Rabbi Yoḥanan, suggests even mixing garments if you don't have a full set of Shabbat clothes – at least one fine item amongst the ordinary. And Avin bar Ḥisdai even says that if you don't have special garments, you should at least wear your ordinary clothes in a distinctive manner. This is beautifully illustrated in an anecdote involving Rabbi Yirmeya and Rabbi Ze’eira, where their differing ways of wearing their outer garments demonstrated the importance of dressing differently for Shabbat.
Rabbi Elazar adds another layer: He blessed it with the Shabbat candle. He even shares a personal story: he once lit a candle on Shabbat eve and found it still burning at the conclusion of Shabbat, with seemingly no oil diminished! A small miracle to illuminate the holy day.
But perhaps the most profound blessing is the radiance of a person's face on Shabbat. The text emphasizes that the joy and peace of Shabbat are reflected in our very countenances. It's a visible sign of the day's special quality.
Then there's the fascinating idea of the primordial light, the light created on the first day of creation. Rabbi Shimon bar Yehuda of Kefar Akko, quoting Rabbi Shimon, shares a powerful idea: even though this light was "cursed" when Adam sinned, it wasn't taken away until the end of Shabbat. The Rabbis believe this primordial light remained with Adam throughout Shabbat, only to be withdrawn as he was expelled from the Garden of Eden.
Bereshit Rabbah connects this to verses in Job and Proverbs, painting a picture of this light being hidden from the wicked and reserved for the righteous in the future. Rabbi Levi, quoting Rabbi Ze’eira, says this light functioned for thirty-six hours – twelve on the day before Shabbat, twelve on the night of Shabbat, and twelve on Shabbat.
But what happened when that light was gone? As the sun set at the conclusion of Shabbat, darkness approached, and Adam became afraid. He associated the darkness with the serpent, the embodiment of death and evil. So, what did God do? He inspired Adam to strike two flint stones together, creating fire. Adam then recited a blessing over the light, the very blessing we still say today at the conclusion of Shabbat: "[Blessed be God] Who creates the lights of fire."
Shmuel explains that we recite this blessing specifically at the conclusion of Shabbat because that moment marked the beginning of fire's creation. Rav Huna and Rabbi Abahu even say we recite a similar blessing at the end of Yom Kippur, because fire "rested" all that day, forbidden to be kindled.
So, the next time you light the Shabbat candles, or perhaps even just notice the special feeling of the day, remember these layers of blessings. Remember the manna, the special clothing, the radiance, and even the first spark of light in a world facing darkness. Shabbat isn't just a day; it's a portal, a reminder of the light that exists within us and the potential for a world bathed in its glow. What will you do this Shabbat to tap into that light?