Shabbos

The word מלאכה is the feminine form of the word מלאך. Melacha is the tangible result of using and forming material for a specific purpose. With the universe’s formation complete, it receives the title of God’s מלאכה.

The word שבת means more than rest. It is a halt in activity because the activity has come to its desired end and purpose. With all of creation in place and free willed-Man given the world with the conditions that God had set forth, all new creation halted because there was nothing more to add.

Shabbos Beraishis itself was the last thing put in place for the education of Mankind. It was blessed, endowing it with the ability to continuously foster an awareness of God in the world. It was made holy, given a unique place, to endure forever.

God blessed this day and made it holy because  this is a day for Man’s education. It is a time for Man to dwell on God the Creator and the purpose of all of Man and creation. All of creation was designed to lead up to this Shabbos education.  This education of Man will gradually, in the course of human history, win over Mankind to become the messenger of God in this world he was intended to become – making use of and uplifting all the universe in service to God.

Beraishis 2:2-3, Pages 43-47

Share

Torah; Mankind’s Path Back to God

All of creation waited in anticipation for Man to arrive. When Man makes proper use of the world, all of the world has meaning.

When in the course of time Man misused the world and didn’t live up to his calling, the unfulfilled earth waited in anticipation for Israel to receive the Torah and begin the process of bringing all of Mankind back to its mission and calling as אדם.

Therefore, the Midrash teaches us, God made a condition with the earth that if Israel accepts the Torah, all is good, but if not, the earth should revert to confusion. It is through Israel that the world receives the Torah. It is through the Torah’s message that Mankind and the earth find their true purpose.  (The sixth refers to the 6th day of Sivan when the Torah was given)

Beraishis, 1:31, Pages 39-40

 

Share

Beraishis 1S “The” Sixth Day – יום השישי

All of creation waited in anticipation for Man to arrive. When Man makes proper use of the world, all of the world has meaning.

When in the course of time Man misused the world and didn’t live up to his calling, the unfulfilled earth waited in anticipation for Israel to receive the Torah and begin the process of bringing all of Mankind back to its mission and calling as אדם.

Therefore, the Midrash teaches us, God made a condition with the earth that if Israel accepts the Torah, all is good, but if not, the earth should revert to confusion. It is through Israel that the world receives the Torah. It is through the Torah’s message that Mankind and the earth find their true purpose. (The sixth refers to the 6th day of Sivan when the Torah was given)

The sixth also teaches us to extend part of the sixth day of the week into Shabbos. The sixth day of creation, the day that concludes all of creation, with Man’s mission, gives meaning to the previous days. Shabbos is a continuation and constant reminder of  this sixth day message.

Beraishis 1:31, Pages 39-40

Share