This week we find the famous opening line to Shabbos day kiddush – V’shumru …. “And Bnei Yisrael should observe the Shabbos, to do the Shabbos, for generations as a covenant forever”

Wait. You didn’t just read the same line twice – You are probably like the scores of other starving Jews who are trying to smell what the main course is instead of paying attention to kiddush. (what? Fasting half a day with all the food sitting on the table, who’s to blame them?)

But focus. Why is the word Shabbos mentioned twice?

Rav Taub of Doshnitz (couldn’t find it on a map) finds that the double phrases focus on the two sides of Shabbos: Observing the Shabbos – abstaining from the negative commandments, and Doing the Shabbos – Engaging in the spirituality of Shabbos. It is very possible to keep Shabbos by simply not doing any melacha and not take part in any of the spirituality of the day. But that is missing half the point.

The famous gemara in Masechta Shabbos says if We all keep Shabbos twice, the Moshiach will come. The obvious question is Why two Shabboses? Isn’t one enough?

Says Rav Taub: One is enough, but one part of Shabbos is not enough. The gemara is referring to the two parts of Shabbos. The essence of Shabbos is not just staying away from the light switches, but to get involved in the prayer, zmiros and holiness that comes with the day as well. When the entire Jewish nation learns exactly what Shabbos is about, they can then merit the Moshiach, a.k.a. the period that is completely Shabbos.

Readers Comments: