Parshas Ki Sisa begins with a series of
seemingly random subjects, ranging from the mitzvah of machtzis hashekel and
the construction of the Kiyor, to our topic this week, a short review of the
laws of Shabbos. The simple answer, given by Rashi, as to why the Torah reminds
us now of the prohibition of working on Shabbos is that there is no better time
to give this reminder than at the beginning of the construction of the Mishkan.
This will be the most important structure ever made, a home for the Shechina of
Hashem to rest among the Jewish People in this world. Should anything, even
Shabbos, get in the way of its construction? Hashem reminds Bnei Yisrael that
yes, Shabbos is not superseded. Regardless of the circumstances, outside of
literal life or death situations, you are not allowed to desecrate the Shabbos.
The command to Moshe about Shabbos here
has an interesting choice of words. “וְאַתָּ֞ה
דַּבֵּ֨ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַ֥ךְ אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י תִּשְׁמֹ֑רוּ” “And
you (Moshe), speak to the children of Israel and say: ‘Only keep my Sabbaths!” (Shemos
31:13). There are two obvious questions on this phrase. First, why does Hashem
need to make a direct reference to Moshe in the pasuk? Who else is passing this
message along to the people? Secondly, why is Shabbos written in the plural
form? It sounds like Hashem is saying they just need to keep a number of
Shabbosos, but at a certain point they won’t?
The Kli Yakar gives an
interesting explanation for these questions. Shabbos had a special meaning for
Moshe in context of his relationship to the nation. According to the medrash,
the day Moshe was chosen as the leader of the nation was on Shabbos. Therefore,
it always held a special place in his heart besides for its religious meaning.
The Torah discusses the laws of Shabbos several times, this is the first time
it is mentioned since Har Sinai. For obvious reasons, Hashem wouldn’t single
out that instance for Moshe, but here, in the first instance since, Hashem
gives Moshe a special shout-out to his connection to the holy day.
When Hashem commands
Bnei Yisrael to build a Mishkan, He says, “וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י
מִקְדָּ֑שׁ” “And they shall make for me a sanctuary” (25:8). The
medrash explains that any time the Torah uses the word “לִי”,
the subject of the reference, the Mishkan in this case, has the capacity to
survive forever. However, as we know only too well, the Mishkan and the Beis
Hamikdash have not survived through the generations. The Kli Yakar explains
that Shabbos is the key. The gemarah in Shabbos (118b) says that if Bnei
Yisrael would keep two Shabbosos perfectly, in the way they were intended to be
celebrated, the Geulah would come immediately. Our pasuk references this idea
by writing the word Shabbos in plural form, as well as using the word “אַךְ” “only”; only in this way, by keeping the
Shabbos, can the Mishkan survive forever. That is why Shabbos is mentioned
here, right before the commencing of the Mishkan’s construction.
This gives even more
significance to Rashi’s answer we mentioned at the beginning. The Mishkan is of
vital, almost unmeasurable importance, to the Bnei Yisrael. But one thing that
cannot under any circumstances be pushed to the side is the keeping of Shabbos.
For without Shabbos, the Mishkan itself cannot survive.
Shabbat Shalom!
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