תורה 86

“[Assist those who cease work on Shabbat…;] who stride on it with short steps; who feast on it three times in order to bless. May their righteousness shine forth like the light of the seven days.” (Shabbat Table Song)

Behold, it is known that during the weekdays the external forces rule. But on the eve of the holy Shabbat, they have no rule at all. As is brought in the holy Zohar: When the day’s sanctity sets in, “all doers of iniquity are dispersed”.

Now, their rule during the week is primarily over the aspect of the feet. They prevent a person from walking in the ways of God. is brought in the Talmud: It is they who cause the knees of the rabbis to become tired (Berakhot 6a) .

But on the holy Shabbat, the strength to walk is returned to them, as it is written (Isaiah 58:13), “If you turn back your feet because it is Shabbat.” This is as we said, that on the holy Shabbat one is able to walk in the ways of God.

However, this is comparable to a child. When first beginning to walk, he still needs support to keep him steady. And even with this, he cannot walk quickly. He can take only small steps, and [others] have to support him. It is the same when a person first begins walking in the ways of God on Shabbat. He is still in need of support to keep him steady.

This support is the element of truth. This element of truth is the aspect of a third leg, as is brought in the Talmud: Truth stands. And Shabbat corresponds to truth, as is brought: Even the unlearned fear telling a lie on Shabbat. Thus when a person binds himself to this trait, it supports him in keeping steady and is the aspect of a third leg.

However, we still need to bless the aforementioned three legs and strengthen them if they are to walk well. This is accomplished by the charity one does on Shabbat—i.e., that one gives a person for Shabbat [expenses], or one a poor person to one’s table.

For there are two types of charity: the charity we do on the weekdays, and the charity we do on the holy Shabbat. Now, charity corresponds to the sun, as it is written, “a charitable sun.” The charity we do during the week parallels the sun of this world. But the charity of Shabbat, which is a taste of the World to Come, parallels the sun as it is destined to be renewed in the Future—this being “like the light of the seven days.”

And the sun, which corresponds to charity, gives strength to the legs, as it is said, “TZeDeK (Righteousness) will walk before him”—i.e., TZeDaKah (charity) will enable him to walk. And it is also said, “The sun shone for him,” and Rashi explains: [It shone] for his benefit, to heal his limp. From this we see that the Shabbat charity one does corresponds to the light of the sun, “like the light of the seven days.” It is this that gives strength to the aforementioned aspect of the three legs.