15 Jul PINCHAS: EXPERIENCING THE NEXT WORLD

If we would ask people the
question, “Which is the
holiest day if the year in
Judaism?” most people
would immediately point to
Yom Kippur. But this is
wrong.

The holiest day of the year comes every
single week – Shabbat.
The punishment prescribed by the Torah
for desecrating Shabbat is harsher than the
punishment prescribed for desecrating
Yom Kippur. And on Shabbat we call seven
men to the Torah, whereas on Yom Kippur
only six men are called. Because yes,
Shabbat is holier than Yom Kippur.
But when we open Parashat Pinhas, we
find something surprising.
This parashah tells of the special sacrifices
that were offered in the Bet Ha’mikdash on
special occasions – on Shabbat and the
holidays. And when we read this section,
we see that Shabbat had the fewest number
of sacrifices – just two sheep. Other
holidays had sacrifices consisting of seven
or more animals, but Shabbat had just two.
Why?

The answer has to do with the essence of
Shabbat, what its true definition is.
The Gemara describes Shabbat as “an
experience resembling in some very small
measure the next world.” What does this
mean?
Our world is tough. Every single person
who is alive struggles with some big
problem. Without exception. Life is
challenging. But the next world is perfect.
It is ideal. We have no idea what olam haba
is, but we know that it’s a perfect existence.
This is what we are to feel, in some small
measure, on Shabbat. This is the day when
we forget about the problems, challenges,
difficulties, fears and concerns of the
workweek, and just enjoy the beautiful
blessings of life.
Shabbat, then, is the merging of two worlds
– our difficult world, and the perfect world
of olam haba.
This is why everything on Shabbat comes
in pairs. We have two hallot on the table.
We sing a special song mizmor shir – two
different expressions which both mean
“song.” And this is why the special
Shabbat sacrifice consisted of two animals

– because this is what Shabbat is about: the
merging of two worlds, experiencing the
perfect world of olam haba here in this
very imperfect world.
Many people make a mistake about what
Shabbat is about. To explain this mistake,
let’s consider the difference between an

old, comfortable pair of jeans, and a brand-
new designer suit. People enjoy wearing

the old pair of jeans, which makes them
feel loose and relaxed. But when they wear
their new suit, they act differently. They
are very careful not to get it dirty and not to
wear it out. They treat it with a great deal
of respect.
Some people treat Shabbat as an old pair of
jeans, as an opportunity to just relax and do
whatever they want. But this isn’t what
Shabbat is. Shabbat is like an expensive
suit. It is “an experience resembling in
some very small measure the next world.”
It is from a higher place.
The Gemara calls Shabbat a precious gift
that G-d gave us from His “treasury.” It is
something exquisite and regal. And it
needs to be treated with respect.
There are two mitzvot on Shabbat – oneg

Shabbos, and kavod Shabbos. This means
we are required to both enjoy Shabbat, and
to respect Shabbat. Certainly, we are
supposed to enjoy fine food, socialize and
rest. But we are also supposed to show
Shabbat honor, by dressing in a dignified
way, acting in a dignified way, and doing
dignified things.
G-d-willing, if we treat Shabbat properly,
then we will be privileged to experience a
true “an experience resembling in some
very small measure the next world,”
enjoying the unparalleled peace, joy and
serenity of the next world right here in our
world, amen.