Shabbat Shuva Sheni: A Proposition
After doing a meaningful Shabbat in Yerushalayim — beautiful davening, good wine, uplifting learning, lunch with new friends who canceled their flights because they felt, “How could we leave now?” — followed by a run to the mamad with them and finishing with a wonderful shiur from Rabbi Walk, a new insight came upon me. The totality of this past Shabbat stirred an Aha! moment: the idea of Shabbat Shuva Sheni.
My individual Shabbat experiences were not the cause of this thinking but certainly helped enable it.
A multitude of dynamics converged on this Shabbat Mevorchim, Vayak’el/Pekudei.
THE CALLS
Moshe issues a call to gather all the people to do the Mitzvot followed by a call to observe Shabbat.
The next call was relaying the balance of the details in building and finishing the Mishkan.
We had a call of Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek as we completed the last Parasha of Shemot/Exodus.
Finally, The Chazan led us in the call to welcome the coming Month of Nissan.
THE BEGINNINGS
Each call reflects a new beginning as Judaism is wont to encourage and facilitate.
A well conducted Shabbat contributes to a physically and spiritually prepared beginning of a new week. Rabbi David Weiss Halivini in a wonderful new Sefer Divrei Halev, communicates that in Vayak’el, Moshe starts by telling the people to “Do” the Mitzvot followed by the command to observe Shabbat. Rabbi Halivini shares the notion that too often we concern ourselves with the “don’ts” rather than a concentration on the dos in creating a memorable Shabbat. As Rabbi Heschel writes in The Sabbath, Shabbos is the first element of Judaism that is sanctified in the Torah and in treating it as such we create a “Sanctuary in Time.”
Our sanctuary in space is The Mishkan, that we complete in the Parasha initiating a new beginning in our relationship with G-d. Halivini calls to our attention, that in during the construction phase of building the Mishkan, the phrase “as G-d commanded Moses” is mentioned 15 times in the portion. The idea is that development occurred specifically to G-d’s directions. However, in concluding the building, the Torah merely states “Moshe finished the work”, implying that we are to apply ourselves in the construct of our partnership with G-d in all things, even though it might not be exactly as G-d commanded. We are to work on finishing our divine work.
I call attention to the fact that within the Aron in the Mishkan, both the broken Tablets and the set Moshe was told to “Carve for Yourself” are found. A message that it is up to us to enable and enforce G-d’s directions ultimately as it would be, through Rabbinic Law. More soon, on the broken tablets’ juxtaposition.
“Chazak, Chazak” prepares the Kehilla for the beginning of a new Sidra in the Torah, Vayikra. This portion was traditionally the start of Torah knowledge in Heder for children on their journey into the wonderous world of learning.
Shabbat Mevorchim preps us for the beginning of Nissan, recognized as the first Month of Months. In essence the New Year, one of renewal and the beginning of our Peoplehood. A call to recreate ourselves as we attempt to do on Rosh Hashanah. What is the driving force prior to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur? We are called on to do Teshuva.
THE CHIDDUSH – A PROPOSITION
Rabbi Shai Finkelstein shared on a podcast, the concept that the broken Tablets symbolizes our great sin of the Golden Calf. Having the new ones that Moshe created or co-created next to the broken ones, represents that we may miss the mark, but there is the brilliance of proper Teshuva that can influence G-d ‘s forgiveness and acceptance. We can renew, rebuild and reconnect. Hence, my call for a Shabbat Shuva Sheni ala Pesach Sheni.
For the past few years starting in Elul, I have immersed myself in learning different texts on Teshuva, experiencing The Rambam, Rav Kook and Dr. Erica Brown. Researching for a new Sefer, I came across Mesilas Teshuva by Rav Yonah of Gerona. Little did I know when ordering it, the Sefer contains close to 800 pages on Teshuva with remarkable detail and commentary. It took me several months past Elul and Yom Kippur to get to the finish line. I realize now, true Teshuva is an everyday, yearlong and lifelong process.
This organic growth of a potential Shabbat Shuva Sheni is a worthwhile proposition. That is my Call to enhance our Shabbat, New Month, New Year and Relationship with G-d. That is a meaningful “do” in all our cycles of new beginnings.
