Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” Exodus 20:8 is a verse of The Torah that Jews take very seriously. We commit to doing no work on the sabbath, because G-d rested on the sabbath and commanded us to do the same. Truly, doing this lengthens our days. However, I have been wondering if we do not miss the more important message. What lies beyond The Sabbath? Is what we do on the other 6 days not just as important, if not more than The Sabbath? What does The Torah say about the rest of the week?
The Sabbath in the Torah
The Torah tells us:
“2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Genesis 2:1-3
However, what is important to note is that this is the beginning of chapter 2. The entirety of Chapter 1 is devoted only to documenting G-d’s creation of Earth. Then, after he has created everything and seen that it was good he rests. The rest is given only 2 verses in Genesis. The creation was given a chapter. Exodus 20:9- 11 explains:
“ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
Creation: Beyond The Sabbath
I think we often forget that G-d spent 6 days creating the world he wanted. We forget that he commanded us to do the same. “Six days you shall labor and do all your work.” I don’t mean getting up and just going to “work” six days a week. Instead, what would happen if each of us actually spent 6 days a week working to create the world we wish to live in, just as G-d did? What would change if we purposely spent 6 days a week in creation of our world? Decreased hate? Decreased pollution? More friendships? Cleaner waterways? Might we save the world if we truly copied our father’s plan for the week? If we spent six days creating the world and one day resting and enjoying our creation, would we not save the planet and with it humanity?
Six Days for a Better World
The Sabbath loses all meaning if we do not complete the six days of work. Only after 6 days of creating the world can one truly appreciate the rest and enjoyment of the creation. Therefore, we must think about what lies beyond The Sabbath. We must purposely arise on Sunday ready to spend a week creating a better world. Peace, inclusion, and social justice must become our purpose. We must live out the commandment to love our brother as ourselves and give to charities. Only then will we be truly honoring The Sabbath.
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