The true purpose of Shabbat

In Parshat Yitro, we read the Ten Commandments.

I would like to focus on the fourth commandment (Shmot 20:8-11) which teaches about Shabbat:

Remember the Shabbat day to sanctify it. You may work six days, and do all your work. But the seventh day is Shabbat to HaShem, your God. You must not do any manner of work- you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maid, your animal, and the foreigner within your gates. For in six days god made the heaven and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day. Therefore God blessed Shabbat and made it holy.

Sforno explains:

The entire Shabbat day should be devoted to spiritual matters. This involves studying Torah, teaching it, performing the commandments associated with it, and enjoying the very nature of such a day on which instead of “serving” the needs of one’s survival in a hostile environment one can concentrate on serving the Master, the provider of life and spiritual inspiration.

Sforno emphasizes that Shabbat is not “Saturday”, “the weekend” or a “day off.” Shabbat is a holy day.

Yishayahu 58:13-14 describes the observance of Shabbat and its reward:

If  you restrain your foot because it is Shabbat; refrain from accomplishing your own needs on My holy day; if you proclaim Shabbat “oneg” a delight, and the holy day of God honored, and you honor it by not engaging in your own affairs, from seeking your own needs or discussing the forbidden- then you will delight in God, and I will mount you astride the heights of the world; I will provide you the heritage of your forefather, Yaakov, for the mouth of God has spoken.

There are so many rewards in our day and age for keeping Shabbat, a day that is “unplugged” from work and social media, a day to spend eating good food with friends and family, a day to focus on God, performing mitzvot, studying Torah and spirituality.

We must remember that Shabbat is not a day of rest for everybody and appreciate those who must work on Shabbat in order to keep us safe in an emergency- the soldiers, first responders, police, firefighters, doctors and nurses.