Posts in Category: Shmos

Yitro

[Based on sections of a sicha written by HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl]
 
The Aseres HaDibros are broken into two main categories:
The first 3 address our Creator and how we are meant to relate to Him.
The final 6 address our relationship with Hashem’s creations.
 
The transition/link from the first 3 to the last 6 is Commandment #4: 
זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ 
 
Shabbos is our testimony and recognition that Hashem created the world. Hashem could have created the world in an instant, but He chose to create the world over the course of six days and make that seventh day a special one. We mimic Hashem’s ‘behavior’ every week of our lives, by working six days and resting on the seventh. Shabbos is one of many ways in which we attempt to emulate G-d.
 
Furthermore, Rav Nebenzahl explains (what I think is) a particularly relevant message relating to the Shir shel Yom recited each Shabbos (Tehillim 92). Mid-way through the Psalm, we say:
בִּפְרֹחַ רְשָׁעִים כְּמוֹ עֵשֶׂב
When the wicked spring up as the grass…
Sometimes we see re’sha’im sprouting, having success and happiness, living long lives, etc. But ultimately, true reshaim have no place in the World to Come. Their end, as Dovid HaMelech continues is: לְהִשָּׁמְדָם עֲדֵי עַד
When they reach the end of their time in this world, they are finished.
 
The opposite is true by tzaddikim. A tzaddik is much more than just a ‘piece of grass’. A tzaddik/tzaddeikes is forever. 
צַדִּיק כַּתָּמָר יִפְרָח כְּאֶרֶז בַּלְּבָנוֹן יִשְׂגֶּה
The tzaddik grows like a cedar tree; beyond any normal bounds. Why? Because a tzaddik ultimately grows in a world without boundaries; it grows in Hashem’s garden. It flourishes in Hashem’s palace:
שְׁתוּלִים בְּבֵית ה’ בְּחַצְרוֹת אֱלֹ-הֵינוּ יַפְרִיחוּ
Tzaddikim are hopefully given many years in this world to influence others and allow others to learn from them, but the main flourishing of a tzaddik occurs beyond this world.
 
Speaking personally, this concept is terribly difficult to comprehend when a life is cut short at such a young age and so abruptly. The hopeful message of these p’sukim, however, is that our belief that the life that was once on this Earth is now forever flourishing in Hashem’s Palace, will eventually bring some small amount of comfort to a grieving family and community. While a guf may tragically be gone, the neshama of a tzaddik or tzadedeikes is nitzchi.
 
The closest thing we have in this world to the World to Come is Shabbos. Shabbos is “me’in olam ha’ba”
Shabbos – observed properly, with the correct mindset – is a small taste of the World to Come. 
Shabbos links us to the World to Come, and it links our responsibilities to Hashem, with our responsibilities to Hashem’s creations. It takes us from a body and a world with borders, to a world/time without (or far fewer) borders. Shabbos is an elevated time to learn and daven a little differently than the rest of the week, and to strengthen relationships with our yedidei nefesh and begin new relationships with other fellow Jews.
 
Daniella understood all of this phenomenally well: She understood the purpose of Shabbos and loved Shabbos; with regard to the first 3 Dibrot, she had tremendous emunah, bitachon and yir’as shamayim; and with regard to the final 6 Dibrot, she also had incredible Kavod ha’briyos, Ahavas ha’briyos, Derech eretz and soaring traits of Bein adam l’chaveiro
 
Dozens of people have spoken or written about Daniella’s love of and importance given to Seuda Shlisheet. We eat this final seuda at the end of Shabbos; a time in the day when it can become easy to stare at our watches, counting down the end of Shabbos, so we can turn on our phones. Someone, however, who holds this meal/time with such high regard, ensures that no part of Shabbos goes by the wayside, and that Shabbos is enjoyed for the entire 25 hours we have to spend with Hashem. It can be said that such a person lives a life and practices their religion with wholeness and temimus. No shortcuts, no lapses; full and genuine commitment. This is someone who has tremendous respect and love for Shabbos, using that time to sing songs of shevach to HKBH, and to further build a community by fostering personal relationships. For thousands of reasons, ‘Temimus’ was the incredibly fitting adjective my brother first used to describe Daniella. Her observance and love of Shabbos was one of the many things she did with completeness, full sincerity and excitement.
 
In the zechus Daniella’s shining example, and all those who have decided, in tribute to Daniella, to give extra attention specifically to Seuda Shlisheet, to enhance their appreciation of the beauty of Shabbos as a whole, and to admire and try to emulate all the many wonderful midos Daniella embodied, may we be zocheh to enjoy Shabbosim of nechama, menucha and simcha.
 
Shabbat Shalom