Parshat Va'eschanan 5777
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week's parsha the Aseres HaDibros. This is the second time the Ten Commandments are recorded in the Torah. The first time is in parshat Yisro when Bnei Yisrael received the Torah. There are a few subtle distinctions in the Aseres HaDibros between the two parshiyot, most prominent among them is the difference in the mitzvah of Shabbos. In Yisro we read Zachor es Yom HaShabbos Lekadsho, while in our parsha we read Shamor es Yom HaShabbos Lekadsho. In addition, in Yisro we read that Shabbos commemorates the creation of the world, while in our parsha we read that Shabbos is connected to Yetzias Mitzrayim. What is the reason for this distinction?
The Sfas Emes explains the difference based on the fact that the first time the Aseres HaDibros are recorded was right after the experience of Yetzias Mitzrayim. Bnei Yisrael were still on the spiritual high of being taken out from a low state of Tumah and becoming the nation of Hashem. The basis of this relationship is the belief in Hashem as the creator of the world. Therefore we accepted upon ourselves the mitzvos of the Torah and specifically the mitzvah of Shabbos which expresses this fundamental belief. This is why the mitzvah of Shabbos is expressed as Zachor; it is the positive obligation to sanctify Shabbos acknowledging Gd as the creator of the world.
Our parsha takes place forty years after they left Egypt as Bnei Yisrael are about to leave the tranquility of life in the desert and enter Eretz Yisrael. The mitzvah of Shabbos in our parsha expresses a totally different context. The Aseres HaDibros in our parsha is for a situation when a Jew is far removed from the experience of Yetzias Mitzrayim. The command in our parsha is for one who is in exile and has difficulty connecting with the Kedushah of Shabbos.
This is why the command of Shabbos in our parsha is Shamor es Yom HaShabbos Lekadsho. It is expressed as a negative command, meaning guard yourselves from outside influences. Guard yourselves from the impurity of the galus in order that you should be able to feel and appreciate the holiness of Shabbos.
And in our parsha there is also a positive obligation to remember. The pasuk says by Shabbos (Chapter 5, Pasuk 15), V'Zacharta Ki Eved Hayisa B'Eretz Mitzrayim; we must remember Yetzias Mitzryaim. By remembering Yetzias Mitzrayim we recall what we are capable of. The experience of Yetzias Mitzrayim implanted within us the ability to receive the holiness of Shabbos. Though we were on a spiritually low level in Mitzrayim, Hashem took us out and established a bris with us and gave us the Torah. So too in later generations, though we might be removed we can still raise ourselves up and experience the Kedushah of Shabbos. And how do we accomplish this? By fulfilling the mitzvah of Shamor es Yom HaShabbos Lekadsho; we need to protect and guard ourselves in order to make ourselves "vessels" worthy of accepting the Kedushah of Shabbos.
The Gemara in Brachos 20B teaches Kol SheYeshno B'Shemirah Yeshno B'Zechirah. The Gemara learns that women are obligated in the mitzvah of Kiddush on Shabbos since whoever is included in the negative command of Shabbos, refraining from doing melacha, is also included in the positive command of making Kiddush. The Sfas Emes understands from here the point we explained. In order to fulfill the positive command of sanctifying the day, he must first be involved in the negative command of successfully guarding himself. It's an expression of the idea taught in the pasuk in Tehillim (Chapter 34, Pasuk 15), Sur M'Ra V'Aseh Tov, remove yourself from evil and do good. First one must guard himself and remove himself from evil and then he can move forward and do good. When we guard ourselves and prepare for the holiness of Shabbos, then we can be "vessels" to accept the Kedushah of Shabbos.
The reason for the mitzvah of Shabbos is established in parshat Yisro; to recognize Hashem as the creator of the world. The reason for recalling Yetzias Mitzrayim in our parsha is to acknowledge and remember what we are capable of. We are capable of true spiritual freedom so that wherever we might be, we can always enable ourselves to experience the Kedushah of Shabbos.
Good Shabbos
Print this article