ספר שמות

(Shemos 31:13) “Speak to the Bnei Yisrael and say: Nevertheless, you must keep My Shabbos’s, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout the ages, that you may know that I Hashem have sanctified you.” This teaches us that one must guard the essence of Shabbos in everything, even during the weekdays.The purpose of creation is fulfilled when Hashem’s creation acts to honor Him, striving to do His will as best as they can, even if they are not sure how. This gives Hashem pleasure. The plural form שבתותי indicates that this principle applies continuously, not just on Shabbos. Shabbos is a sign of the connection between Bnei Yisrael and Hashem, as the Torah, Bnei Yisrael, and Hashem are one. This means Bnei Yisrael are connected to the primary Life source.When Bnei Yisrael elevate everything to its source and connect to Hashem’s inner life force, their own energy is awakened. This is the meaning of לדעת כי אני ה' מקדישכם, “you shall know that I am Hashem who sanctifies you.” The more Hashem’s power is awakened, the more Bnei Yisrael’s power is also awakened. Rashi explains that even the commandment of building the Mishkan does not override Shabbos, teaching us that in every action, even a mitzvah, one must remember the primary intention of fulfilling Hashem’s will without personal gain, only for the sake of Heaven. This brings great praise, as it returns the action to Hashem, connecting and uplifting the doer.

Rashi (Shemos 31:13) explains the double expression שבת שבתון to mean that rest should be reposeful and not casual. We interpret this to mean that casual rest occurs when one has nothing to do and then rests. Reposeful rest, however, happens when a person works hard on a task and then rests upon its completion, achieving true rest. The work is done with the intention of reaching this stage of rest.Similarly, Hashem's "rest" after creating the world in six days was this type of reposeful rest. We learn from this that man's rest on Shabbos should also be of this nature. The pasuk says, “Six days you shall work,” followed by “and on the seventh day rest,” indicating that the work of the week should lead to and fulfill the purpose of Shabbos.All the work done during the week should aim to fulfill Hashem's will, culminating in Shabbos. This concept is supported by the idea that all actions during the week are elevated on Shabbos (See Be’er Mayim Chaim, Shemos 20:11).

The Chidushei Harim explained לעשות את השבת, “To make the Shabbos,” based on the Ramban's explanation of Avraham Avinu asking for a sign about inheriting Eretz Yisrael. The Ramban stated that an action strengthens a promise, making it tangible. Similarly, performing physical mitzvot makes their heavenly roots everlasting.For Shabbos, “to make the Shabbos” means that observing it gives Shabbos tangibility in this world. Although the mitzvah involves not working, this abstention is considered an action, similar to how refraining from muzzling an animal verbally is still an action in halacha. By not working on Shabbos, we actively sustain its sanctity.The phrase לעשות את השבת connects to “as a covenant forever,” indicating that Bnei Yisrael should make Shabbos an eternal covenant by incorporating its essence into all aspects of life, even during the week, as suggested by the plural form שבתותי.

The Gemara (Beitza 16b) teaches that Shabbos was given in secret, as it says, “It is a sign between Me and Bnei Yisrael.” If so, why were the gentiles punished for not accepting it? The answer is that while the gentiles knew about Shabbos, they did not know about the reward for keeping it or the extra neshama received on Shabbos.The idea of an extra neshama is explained in the Midrash (Bereishis Rabba 11:8), where Shabbos complains to Hashem that all other days have a partner, but Shabbos does not. Hashem replies that Bnei Yisrael will be Shabbos’ partner. The days of the week are the energy of creation, as each day has its mazal in Heaven that commands growth. Creation receives from these days, which are upper lights, and since they give to creation, they gain more energy in Heaven. This is the concept of the days having a partner.However, on Shabbos, Hashem ceased creating, and nothing was created on Shabbos. Therefore, Shabbos has no partner because creation does not receive from Shabbos’s light. Shabbos is the neshama (soul) of the days of creation. Bnei Yisrael, being the neshama of creation, depend on them to awaken the life force in everything. Thus, they can receive the light of Shabbos. Shabbos gives to Bnei Yisrael, gaining an extra neshama, which is like a soul for the soul, and through this, Bnei Yisrael channel this energy to the entire creation.