This week’s parsha begins by discussing the law of Bris Milah, which takes place on the eighth day. The commentators discuss why it needs to be performed specifically on the eighth day. Some answer that this way the boy is guaranteed to live through at least one Shabbos before the Bris and this heals him. This healing makes him able to go through the difficult surgery of the Bris Milah. We see from here Shabbos is an extremely powerful day.

Years ago, many people used to travel from far and near to the city of Radin to get a blessing from the great Chofetz Chaim. Once, a person who was going through terrible sufferings visited the Chofetz Chaim and asked for a blessing. The great Rabbi asked the man if he kept the laws of Shabbos carefully. The man replied he did not. The Chofetz Chaim then quoted the second paragraph of Lecha Dodi and stated “Shabbos is the source of blessing.” If a person needs more blessings in his life, he needs to keep the laws of Shabbos properly.

The following is taken from Shabbos Mincha Shemone Esray (Art Scroll siddur translation): “The splendor of greatness and crown of salvation, the day of contentment and holiness have You given to Your people. Abraham would rejoice, Isaac would exult, Jacob and his children would rest on it, a rest of love and magnanimity, a rest of truth and faith, a rest of peace and serenity and tranquility and security, a perfect rest in which You find favor.” This is what Shabbos is! This is such a beautiful prayer but unfortunately, people rush through this as they are either just waking up from their long afternoon nap or already thinking of what they will be doing in a few hours when Shabbos is over.

Shabbos is a beautiful, holy day. This is why the young men in the Ponevezh Yeshiva used to stay up all 25 hours of Shabbos. They would not sleep at all because they did not want to miss a single moment of it! Shabbos is so precious. But unfortunately, in America, Shabbos has lost its significance in many people’s eyes. People come home late on Friday afternoons and rush in late for Mincha. Then at the end of Shabbos, people are in a rush to get out of shul so they can go back to their “weekday” life. Someone once said he finds it amazing that no one seems to care when weekday or Shabbos prayers begin, but on Saturday night, many people are banging to get the prayers started quickly. Shabbos has taken on the appearance of being a bother – it gets in the way of my life and it is something we need to go through as quickly as possible. This is unfortunate!!! Shabbos is the day we get to feel some holiness on this earth. It is the day when blessing comes to our lives. It is a day when families get to spend time together and a day when people are free from work so they can learn Torah.

Shabbos is the greatest day!

Therefore, I recommend people try to either start Shabbos 2 minutes earlier than normal or end Shabbos 2 minutes later than normal. These 2 minutes show we want the holiness and blessing of Shabbos!

Good Shabbos!
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