Shabbat. That the Jews rested did not bother them; Romans too enjoyed leasure. What shocked the Romans was that the Jews also allowed their servants to rest on Shabbat. This was unheard of to them and seemed a violation of the social hierarchy.
In this week’s Torah portion we read, “Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of your God יהוה; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave,… Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and your God יהוה freed you from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore your God יהוה has commanded you to observe the sabbath day.” (Deuteronomy 5:12 – 15)
Our Torah taught that because we were once slaves we had to treat our slaves and servants with the respect worthy of any human being, including Shabbat. In this sense, the Torah teaches that all human beings are equal; none is better than another, and all deserve rest and renewal. In today’s economy where technology continues to erase the boundaries between work and our private lives, and employers expect their employees to be available at all times it is wise to remember these words, that the difference between a free person and a slave is the right to control their own time, to be able to work and to rest.
Commenting on this verse, Nahmanides (14th C. Spain) wrote, “to observe the Sabbath because of our having been slaves, working all day against our will and never having rest, and he commanded us now to abstain from work and rest in order that we remember the kindnesses of G-d towards us in bringing us forth from slavery to rest.” The Sabbath is a constant reminder that we are imbued with dignity as creations of God and have greater value than our economic utility. Make this Shabbat a real day of rest.
Vaetchanan, Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11, Parshat Hashavua for Shabbat, July 29, 2023
July 27, 2023 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
Shabbat. That the Jews rested did not bother them; Romans too enjoyed leasure. What shocked the Romans was that the Jews also allowed their servants to rest on Shabbat. This was unheard of to them and seemed a violation of the social hierarchy.
In this week’s Torah portion we read, “Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of your God יהוה; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave,… Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt and your God יהוה freed you from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore your God יהוה has commanded you to observe the sabbath day.” (Deuteronomy 5:12 – 15)
Our Torah taught that because we were once slaves we had to treat our slaves and servants with the respect worthy of any human being, including Shabbat. In this sense, the Torah teaches that all human beings are equal; none is better than another, and all deserve rest and renewal. In today’s economy where technology continues to erase the boundaries between work and our private lives, and employers expect their employees to be available at all times it is wise to remember these words, that the difference between a free person and a slave is the right to control their own time, to be able to work and to rest.
Commenting on this verse, Nahmanides (14th C. Spain) wrote, “to observe the Sabbath because of our having been slaves, working all day against our will and never having rest, and he commanded us now to abstain from work and rest in order that we remember the kindnesses of G-d towards us in bringing us forth from slavery to rest.” The Sabbath is a constant reminder that we are imbued with dignity as creations of God and have greater value than our economic utility. Make this Shabbat a real day of rest.