Rabbein Bachaya continues “V’Karata LiShabbos Oneg – and you shall call it a pleasure” (Yeshayahu 58:13) requires you to call, to do something. One should call Shabbos like you were inviting a guest, he says. He quotes the Mechilta (Ki Sisa 1) where it says that if one “does” Shabbos here on earth, it is as if one kept Shabbos in the heavens. And not with the language of shamor, guarding, but of aseh, doing. We refrain from creative activity in regards to what we call melachah– but we have to be creative in our observance of the positive aspects of Shabbos.
If we want to inspire our teens, and ourselves, to look forward to Shabbos so that there isn’t a need for cell phones and texting, then we need to be creative. We need to plan for Shabbos. We need to make Shabbos truly “Mei’ayn Olam Haba, out of this world.” Our parsha says, “Lo siva’aru eish,do not light a fire,” which means we can’t light a fire of oxygen and fuel, but we are supposed to light a fire in our souls and our hearts – with prayer, song, divrei Torah and lively, interesting discussion and with the cholent, kugel and a Shabbos nap. So let’s commit ourselves to thinking about our Shabbos, let’s commit ourselves to “Laasos es haShabbos” – not only must to keep Shabbos, but to do Shabbos, we must use all our initiative, inspiration, imagination and artistry to create a Shabbos that is not a “half Shabbos” with a Shabbos App but truly a “HaveShabbos” with a Shabbos nap.
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State Capital: Madison
State Nickname: The Badger State
State Motto: Forward
State Flower: Wood Violet
State Bird: Robin
First Shul: The 1863 Gates of Heaven Synagogue in Madison is the oldest synagogue building in the state.Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun of Milwaukee has been in continuous existence since 1856.
Baseball Teams: Milwaukee Brewers
Basketball Team: Milwaukee Bucks