Parshat VaEschanan 5779
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha the Aseres HaDibros. This is the second time they are brought in the Torah, the first time being in parshat Yisro. One of the distinctions between the two places they are taught is in the mitzvah of Shabbos. The first time the Torah teaches that the reason for Shabbos is (Shemos, Chapter 20, Pasuk 11), Ki Sheshes Yamim Asa Hashem es Hashamayim v'es Ha'Aretz, es Hayam v'es Kol Asher Bam, Vayanach Bayom Ha'Shvi'i. The reason we keep Shabbos every week is to commemorate Hashem having created the world. In our parsha we read (Chapter 5, Pasuk 15), V'Zacharta Ki Eved Hayisa B'Eretz Mitzrayim Vayotzia'cha Hashem Elokecha Misham. The reason for keeping Shabbos is to commemorate Hashem having taken us out of from being slaves in Mitzrayim. How are we to understand these two distinct reasons for Shabbos, and why are they both necessary?
The Sfas Emes explains the interplay between these two different reasons in the following manner. The whole point of Shabbos is for Bnei Yisrael to serve as witnesses for Hashem as the Creator. And as we have explained previously, there are two types of witnesses. The pasuk says in Vayikra (Chapter 5, Pasuk 1), V'Hu Eid, Oh Ra'ah Oh Yada; and he was a witness, either by seeing or by knowledge. We derive from here that there are two ways one can be a witness. Either we have seen something with our own eyes and we testify about what we saw. Or we have knowledge based on what we have been told, i.e. Reuven told us he borrowed money, and we testify about what we know.
The understanding that we serve as witnesses on Shabbos and that there are two types of testimony explain why we have two reasons for the mitzvah of Shabbos. In parshat Yisro the Torah states we keep Shabbos to commemorate and indicate that Hashem created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, therefore we do the same. This is a testimony based on knowledge, Oh Yada; we can't say that we saw the creation with our own eyes, rather we testify based on knowledge. But what really gives us that knowledge. How can we really testify Hashem created the world as proper witnesses?
The reason for Shabbos brought in the second set of Luchos in our parsha is because of Yetzias Mitzrayim which we ourselves saw and experienced. This is a testimony based on vision, Oh Ra'ah, of seeing the tremendous miracles involved in Hashem taking us out of Egypt. But we can't say from seeing the miracles in Mitzrayim that we saw the creation of the world. We can testify to the miracles in Mitzrayim but is that sufficient to give us even the knowledge and status of witnesses for Hashem creating the world?
This knowledge and testimony of Hashem as the Creator didn't come about until the culmination of Yetzias Mitzrayim; Kabbalas HaTorah. When Bnei Yisrael stood at Har Sinai and received the Torah Panim B'Panim, face to face, that's when Bnei Yisrael received knowledge and awareness of Hashem as the Creator. This is when the physical borders between Bnei Yisrael and Hashem were removed as the pasuk says (Chapter 4, Pasuk 10), Yom Asher Amadeta Lifnei Hashem Elokecha. This is when Bnei Yisrael became witnesses of Oh Yada.
This point is driven home by Rashi on the pasuk in our parsha (Chapter 4, Pasuk 35), Atah Hare'isa La'Da'as Ki Hashem Hu Ha'Elokim, Bnei Yisrael saw and received knowledge of Hashem as the Creator. And when did this happen? Rashi teaches that at Har Sinai Hashem removed all barriers and Bnei Yisrael saw Hashem as one. It was this awareness of Hare'isa La'Da'as, which enables us to testify afterwards that Hashem created the world.
This process takes place every Shabbos as well. We receive a Neshamah Yeseirah and through this gift of holiness on Shabbos we receive knowledge of Hashem as the Creator. Through the power of the Torah we have this unique sense on Shabbos of the truth that Hashem created the world. And this enables to testify on Shabbos that Hashem created the world, even though it's something we can't actually see. This is why we have two reasons for Shabbos. We need to testify about Hashem as the creator of the world. But we can only do that as a result of having experienced Yetzias Mitzrayim which culminated in Bnei Yisrael receiving the Torah. It is precisely through the Torah that there was a revelation of Hashem which gave us the ability to testify through knowledge of Hashem as the Creator. And this knowledge and awareness repeats itself every week at the time of the testimony itself; Shabbos Kodesh.
Good Shabbos
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