Rabbi's Blog

Shabbos Breishis is, as indicated by its name, the very first Parsha
of the Torah. Breishis has multiple meanings: first, in the
beginning, creation, and so forth.. The significance of the first
reading of Breishis is connected to and directly follows the
incredible spiritual season commencing with Selichos and concluding
with Shmini Atzeres. The word “Breishis” can be divided into two
words: “Bara” (created) and “Shis” (six) in Aramaic. In the
beginning God created the six days of the work week, and we read all
about it in this week’s portion which coincides with the seventh
day, which, of course, is Shabbos - the day we rest from the other
six work days.

Some famous concepts surrounding the fourth of the Aseres HaDibros,
the Ten Commandments, is quoted by Rambam in the laws of Shabbos
30:15: “Shabbos is the Os (the sign) between Hashem and the Jewish
people forever. The Gemara in Nedarim 78b says regarding this coming
Shabbos that it does not require sanctification from the Beis Din,
the Jewish court. I am sure many of you reading this know of Jews who
in the early part of the twentieth century had to find another job
every Monday morning, as they refused to work on Shabbos knowing they
would be fired. Those Jews in the early years saved Shabbos in
America! Unfortunately, not everyone was able to stand firm and pass
that test of not working on Shabbos when they needed to put bread on
their tables. I always say about myself, that I am grateful to have
been born a few decades later; I didn’t have to take that test. It
is easy for me to say now that I wouldn’t have worked on Shabbos,
but who knows. My grandfather, A”H, was one of those great men who
created his own business in order to work for himself and not be
subjected to working on Shabbos.

Rabbi Warren Goldstein, Chief Rabbi of South Africa, has taken the
Shabbos Project of South Africa, begun in 2013, to the entire Jewish
world this year. To quote Rabbi Goldstein, “Of all the mitzvos,
Shabbos has the power to transform Klal Yisrael — culturally, as a
matter of identity, as a declaration of emunah, and as a gateway to a
Torah way of life.” I will share the Shabbos Project manifesto with
you:

1. Together we will keep the Shabbat of 24/25 October from sundown
to stars out. 

2. We will keep it in its entirety, in all of its halachic detail and
splendor as it has been kept throughout the ages.

3. Its rhythm will unite us with each other, with Jews around the
world and throughout the ages.s

4. On this day we will create a warm and loving space, holding our
families together.

5. On this day we will lay down the burdens, distractions, demands
and pressures of daily life.

6. On this day we will renew ourselves, emerging spiritually,
emotionally and physically invigorated.

7. On this day we will own our precious heritage, wearing it as a
badge of pride and honor.

8. Together we embark on this great adventure to rediscover our
G-d-given gift of Shabbat.

There has been some controversy about the approach to this amazing
opportunity for the Jewish people. In my humble opinion the Shabbos
project is about getting as many Jews to observe a full Shabbos, not
necessarily getting as many Jews as possible to do something for
Shabbos. . No one is so naïve as to believe that everyone who signs
up for keeping this Shabbos will keep the entire Shabbos according to
halacha, but each participant should at least make an attempt,
approaching Shabbos with the intent to give it a try!

I believe the Shabbos Project will change the course of Judaism and
world Jewry if even only a few observe the full halachik Shabbos. The
snowball effect will happen gradually over time, but only the real
thing can influence the casual Jew who doesn’t recognize the
importance and deep beauty of a full halachik Shabbos. This, in turn,
will build upon initial success, eventually influencing more and more
or our people. If each of us takes personal responsibility for
involving our fellow Jews to join us in the mitzvah of observing one
full Shabbos, our own personal enthusiasm and honest commitment can
make a profound difference.

There are many approaches to Kiruv Rechokim, bringing Jews closer to
Judaism. No one person or organization has a monopoly on how or what
to do in order to bring Jews back to their roots of Mitzva
observance. Here in San Diego there are different programs taking
place on Shabbos, October 25th. Most Jews don’t really know the
nuances within the different Shabbos programs, but there are clearly
different approaches and different goals. The nuances of each program
are subtle and perhaps deviate from the Shabbos Project. The San
Diego Jewish community should not be afraid to push a full Halachik
Shabbos observance to those who don’t practice it on a regular
basis.

Throughout the Talmud we read and learn about Machlokes, the
arguments in Halacha and the approach to Mitzvos. We clearly see from
Pirkei Avos the distinction between a Machlokes that is for the sake
of Heaven and those which are not. Hillel and Shammai argued
throughout their lifetime and they lived in peace and harmony. If the
differences are both clear and do not harm each other, then it may be
L’Shem Shamayim and it will succeed and bring Bracha to the Jewish
people. In that case every avenue will lead the Jewish people to
become more observant and create a greater observance of Shabbos. If
it is not for the sake of Heaven then all of the good intentions will
fail miserably.

We at Beth Jacob are always active in pursuing the reaching out to
Jews of all denominations. We never check or ask a person how they
got to Shul on Shabbos. It is specifically for this special project
called the “Shabbos Project” that we are asking and affording
people the opportunity to observe Shabbos for twenty five hours
according to all the laws and details of Shabbos. We hope everyone
takes the offer to join together with us and with this world-wide
movement created by Rabbi Goldstein.

As the Gemara in Shabbos teaches, if the entire Jewish people keep
two Shabbasos in a row Moshiach will come immediately. There is even
another opinion that says even if the Jews keep one Shabbos, Moshiach
will come. Let’s make next Shabbos of Parshas Noach that special
one where everybody observes a full 25 hour Shabbos, experiencing the
power of doing so All Together as One.

Ah Gut Yom Tov/Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky