Bat Kol International, Weekly Torah Nuggets
Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei. Exodus 35:1-40:38
Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy Sabbath of solemn rest
to the Lord; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. (Ex. 35:2-3)
Why is the Sabbath so important? Abraham Heschel (20th century Jewish scholar) points out that one of the most distinguished words in the Bible is the Hebrew kadosh (‘holy’). What was the first holy thing in the history of the world? A mountain? An altar? Rather, a day. “And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy” (Genesis 2:3). In the Bible, holiness in time is what comes first. When we give this time to God, our priorities find their proper order. Sabbath observance prevents us from becoming enslaved to the things and activities of this world.
Reflection:
Consider the ‘deathly’ effects of not heeding Sabbath rest: burn-out, lack of energy, alienation from loved ones. How will I approach the coming Sabbath as a day of rest and renewal?
Prepared by Teresa Pirola
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“Since the spiritual patrimony common to Christians and Jews is thus so great, this sacred synod wants to foster and recommend that mutual understanding and respect which is the fruit, above all, of biblical and theological studies.”
Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions: Nostra Aetate, No. 4