Written by Efrayim Zaghi

Parshat Bechukotai informs the Jews of the curses and blessings that will occur to them if they follow or reject Hashem’s commandments. One of the most critical and foundationary mitzvot of the Torah to focus on is Shabbat. Shabbat is a beautiful day of rest that Hashem designated for us to model him the same way he rested on the seventh day of creation. It is meant to be a break from the outside world, a pit stop of spirituality until we go into another week of focusing on earthly matters. Although it is a renewal of our spiritual being, our neshama, it is also a renewal of ourselves, a time to reflect on what we did that week and recharge for the upcoming one. 

Although the Torah does not explicitly mention Shabbat as a commandment to follow, the first pasuk of this week’s parsha says:

“אִם-בְּחֻקֹּתַי תֵּלֵכוּ, וְאֶת-מִצְו‍ֹתַי תִּשְׁמְרוּ וַעֲשִֹיתֶם אֹתָם” (Vayikra 26:3)

“If you walk in My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them,”

The Torah then continues to mention the blessings rewarded to a person if they follow Hashem’s commandments.

Rabbi Landau shared a fantastic story that happened this year on October 7th to a man named Daniel Abrahami. He and his 12 friends were at the music festival, and his consciousness started bothering him since he had taken it upon himself to keep Shabbat a few days earlier on Yom Kippur. He knew he wouldn’t keep Shabbat if he stayed at the festival, so he told his friends that he was keeping Shabbat that week, and if anyone wanted to join him, they could rent an Airbnb or an apartment together for that Shabbat. Seven of the 12 guys went with him, and five stayed at the festival. He managed to squeeze into an apartment and arranged some food; they sang and danced and had a wonderfully uplifting Friday night while keeping a kosher Shabbat. That night, he dreamed of his childhood friend, Yitzchak ben Yosef, who drowned in the Kineret at the age of 7. He told him in the dream that their observance of Shabbat was making waves in Shamayims since it was challenging for them. He continued, saying, “Because of that mitzvah that you did, it will save your life and your friends’ lives. That morning, he woke up and heard missiles flying overhead, but he didn’t think much of it since there were always missiles in that area. Only a few hours later, when he heard about the tragic news at the music festival, he realized what his dream had been all about. Unfortunately, of the five friends that had stayed at the festival, he had to go to three of their funerals, and the attacking Arabs kidnapped two of them.

Although, sadly, some of those boys were kidnapped or passed away, it goes to show how strong keeping Shabbat is, especially when it is hard for us. Daniel’s dedication to Shabbat not only saved his life but also the lives of all the other boys who came with him. There is one important takeaway from this parsha and this entire situation: If a person keeps Shabbat, Shabbat will keep them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on76a1JY08w – story