“RABBI’S
MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Beshalach –
Shabbas Shirah
10 Shevat 5775/ January
30, 2015
Traveling by airplane is an amazing
experience. It never ceases to amaze me how things that are so tall and
imposing when we are on the ground, including cars, trucks, houses and
buildings, suddenly appear miniscule and even infinitesimal from an altitude of
16,000 feet (international flights fly over 20,000 feet).
What’s even more incredible is how
quickly it occurs. After the plane races down the runway it’s suddenly airborne.
Within seconds it ascends hundreds of feet as the ground below literally
shrinks from view. The traffic that you may have encountered on the way to the
airport, which left you harried and over-anxious now looks trivial. The
skyscrapers that looked so imposing and breathtaking yesterday now looks like
they barely extend over the city-line. The massive mountains you see in the
distance as you drive to work each day now appear like small protrusions above
the panorama.
The flying experience is a great analogy
for our experience every Shabbos. Throughout the week we feel overwhelmed and
intimidated by deadlines and other pressures. Bills must be paid and
responsibilities fulfilled. We feel harried and anxious by the many things we are
responsible for.
On Friday afternoon in the last moments
before Shabbos we are invariably caught up in a harried tizzy as we rush to
ensure that everything is taken care of before the holy day begins. We feel
like we are racing down the runway picking up speed, as the plane pulsates from
the acceleration.
And then suddenly the shaking ceases and
we are airborne. The woman’s hand strikes the match that will illuminate the
lights of Shabbos and the Chazan’s voice melodiously resonates with the ancient
words of Tehillim which introduce the holy day: “Let us go exult to Hashem;
sing to the rock of our salvation”. In seconds we have ascended way above the
earth and peer at the world below us with a bird’s eye view. What was so
imposing and daunting a few minutes ago is now laughably miniscule.
On Shabbos we view the world from a
different perspective. We become partners with the creator and see the whole
world for what it truly is – a conduit for holiness and serving the Divine. All
of the things which provoke so much anxiety and energy throughout the week now
appear inconsequential and trivial in comparison with what really matters in
life.
Every morning, as we begin the blessings
prior to Kerias Shema, we state the profound declaration: “How numerous
are your actions Hashem, all of them were made with wisdom.” Yet strangely
enough, according to nusach Ashkenaz, on Shabbos morning that sentence is
omitted.
Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt’l (Pachad
Yitzchok, Shabbos, 6) notes that during the week we are engaged in all things
worldly. We are involved in the furtherance of society and humanity through our
efforts to develop the world. Therefore, during the week we need to remind
ourselves that the numerous components of creation are all the wisdom of G-d.
On Shabbos however, we do not see the
disparate components of the world. We do not focus on the quantitative
components of the world. On Shabbos we view the world as one entity of divine
energy and opportunity. Shabbos is a day of qualitative focus. Therefore, on
Shabbos we do not speak of the numerousness of creation, but on the
purpose and ultimate direction of creation. As we state in the ‘Song of
Shabbos’ (Tehillim 92): “How great are Your works Hashem; exceedingly
profound are Your thoughts.”
The shirah of Shabbos is the shirah of
the true meaning of life!
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum