G‑d gave us a precious gift, the gift of Shabbat – a day of rest that connects us to Him with cords of love. This holy day allows us to become a vessel capable of receiving from the Creator His light, His love, and His strength, which illuminate and uplift the entire week.
How does this happen? Through keeping Shabbat and refraining from any forbidden work on this special day.
As it is written in the Torah: “They shall make for Me a Tabernacle, and I will dwell among them”
The Torah does not say “I will dwell in it,” meaning only within the physical Tabernacle, but rather “among them,” in the plural form.
This tells us that G‑d’s light will reside within every single one of us!
Whenever one merits to build an inner sanctuary in their soul, they become worthy of receiving the light of G‑d.
How do we build such a Tabernacle in the soul? This sanctuary is built through self-restraint!
By restraining oneself and refraining on Shabbat from performing those thirty-nine labors used in constructing the physical Tabernacle, we thereby merit to build a spiritual sanctuary within our souls.
For it is specifically through the power of restraint that the character of the soul is built up and established, making it a fitting vessel to receive the Divine light of the holy Shabbat.
If a person begins to keep Shabbat even in a small way – he already becomes connected and attached to G‑d, and merits to receive the light of this special day.
For example: if one simply refrains on Shabbat from turning off the light, one already merits through this to observe part of the holy day, to connect to the Creator of the world, and to receive from the light of Shabbat.
The more we rejoice, sing, and dance on Shabbat, the more deeply we will merit to feel the light of Shabbat within us.
Good luck!
