Parashat Ki Tisa: Shabbat Shalom

In this week's Torah portion, Ki Tisa, the Lord reaffirms the gift of the Sabbath: and clarifies that it is a covenant that God's people will keep...forever.

Exodus 31:12 "And the LORD said to Moses, 13'You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, "Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you. 14You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. Everyone who profanes it shall be put to death. Whoever does any work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death. 16Therefore the people of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, observing the Sabbath throughout their generations, as a covenant forever. 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."'" (ESV)

Put to death? Confusing to some degree. But when you think about it spiritually, keeping the Sabbath is the only ritual that God included in the 10 Commandments. Not keeping the Sabbath to the Lord could be considered a type of idolatry--putting other things above the One, True God--another commandment. And so not guarding and keeping the Sabbath would be breaking two commandments: the one that says "you shall have no other gods but Me." But above all, the Lord is merciful and just and works with each individual in His way and timing. And when He calls, celebrating the Sabbath is an amazing blessing.

from aish.com
"When you observe Shabbat," continues the Chofetz Chaim, "you testify that the Almighty created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. By keeping Shabbat you proclaim that you have this awareness. A person who fails to keep Shabbat removes this sign. This is the reason for the importance of Shabbat."

Shabbat Shalom! / Sabbath Peace!