For personal reasons, I am going to post this very early. May this be a thread where we leave behind the anger, hate, and negativity and instead use this space to bring positivity, blessings, and G-d to our day!
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Shabbat is one of the best known and least understood of all Jewish observances. People who do not observe Shabbat think of it as a day filled with stifling restrictions, or as a day of prayer like the Christian Sabbath. But to those who observe Shabbat, it is a precious gift from G-d, a day of great joy eagerly awaited throughout the week, a time when we can set aside all of our weekday concerns and devote ourselves to higher pursuits.
In Jewish literature, poetry and music, Shabbat is described as a bride or queen, as in the popular Shabbat hymn Lecha Dodi Likrat Kallah (come, my beloved, to meet the [Sabbath] bride).
The custom is to face the rear of the synagogue during the last stanza of “Lecha Dodi” to symbolize that we are actually greeting a royal guest.
Of course, the real guest we are greeting is the Presence of the Almighty, which descends upon us every Shabbat. We need only be on the correct wavelength to tune in! It is said “more than Israel has kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept Israel.”
Just like a Jew is not a complete without Shabbat, and a groom is not complete without his bride – a human is not complete without G-d. Contrary to our instinct, this is often most true when bad things are occurring, and when we fully commit to something difficult. It is at these times that we must realize that G-d is not punishing us with the struggle, but instead actually blessing us with an opportunity to grow, and become better. Like marriage, Shabbat is an opportunity to commit to something larger than ourselves, and is done by choosing to forsake that which are easy to us. In the end (if done right) we realize that only through the devotion, and challenge were we able to see and experience our full potential. I believe this to be a true lesson for almost everything. Every moment is the work, and every moment is worth it.
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For those Jews who guard the Shabbat, may it be blessed and meaningful. For those of you who do not, or are not Jewish, have a wonderful weekend, and rest of your day.
Either way, enjoy this mostly open, and hopefully G-d blessed, and positive thread.
Tags: G-d, Judaism, Marriage, Open thread, Positivity, Religion, Shabbat
