The Importance Of Keeping Shabbat

Twelve times in the Torah, G-d wrote about the importance of keeping Shabbat, "it is an eternal covenant between Me and the Children of Israel" (Shemot 31:16-17). For those of us who make Kiddush on Friday night and on Shabbat morning, we say a few words, but not always do we pay attention to what we say. We say, ‘The Children of Israel shall observe the Shabbat to observe the Shabbat throughout their generations, as an eternal covenant between Me (Me meaning HaShem) and the Children of Israel. It’s a sign for eternity to know that I, G-d, created the world in six days and on the seventh day I rested.’

The Torah says this twelve times in different places, more than any other topic (besides loving the converts). The reward for keeping Shabbat is tremendous, while the punishment is impossible to understand on how it could be so bad—it’s even worse than someone who commits murder. This indicates that to the Creator of the world, the covenant of the Shabbat is even more important than anything else, including the prohibition against killing.

Shabbat is a covenant, there are not that many mitzvot the word covenant was used for. It serves as the foundation of Judaism. According to Jewish law, if a Jew does not observe the laws of Shabbat, they effectively cut themselves off from Judaism. Unfortunately, many Jews are unaware of how crucial Shabbat is because we grew up in a generation with an environment where driving and violating Shabbat became normalized.

But thats the truth. The Shulchan Aruch, the book of Jewish law, mentions the consequences of desecrating Shabbat in seven different places. Someone who violates Shabbat (mechalel Shabbat) excludes themselves from any holy ceremony in Judaism, excludes themselves from Judaism and faces other severe consequences.

Consider this if you’re honest with yourself: If there were a 1% chance of poison in a cup, you wouldn’t drink it. But there’s much more than a 1% chance that the Torah is Divine—it’s 100% Divine. So why do some people turn on electricity or drive cars on Shabbat? It’s because they lack even 1% knowledge or belief in the Torah that it comes from G-d. If they truly understood its Divinity, they wouldn’t engage in these actions, risking exclusion from eternal life!

The damage caused by disregarding Shabbat is tremendous. and you’re still doing it for what reasons—to go to the mall or attend a game or business? The same day G-d gave the Torah 3336 years ago remains unchanged. The truth endures: G-d is the same G-d, the Torah is the same, and the obligation remains.

The Rambam, in Hilchot Shabbat, Chapter 30, Halacha number 15, writes that "whoever observes the Shabbat as the Halacha prescribes, and honors it, and indulges in its pleasures to the best of their ability, will receive an abundant reward in this world in addition to the reward set aside for him in the World to Come. And in the merit of observing Shabbat the sins of a person can be forgiven to the extent where our Sages says—even someone who was an idol worshipper as people did in the generation of Enosh, through observing the Shabbat as the Halacha dictates, will be forgiven for idol-worship."

When you possess such a treasure, playing with fire—by treating Shabbat casually—("aaah today it was to hard for me or ah I don’t really wanna do it right now") shows a lack of understanding of it’s preciousness and on it's reward for following it (in this world and the next) and it's severe punishment for not (also in this world and the next). The Rambam continues: "The Mitzvah of Shabbat is equivalent to all of the other mitzvot in the torah combined. It's a sign of the eternal connection between the Blessed Holy One and us, and therefore anyone who transgresses any of the other mitzvot in the Torah is still considered a Jew, even though they’re a wicked one, nonetheless still a Jew. But someone who publicly desecrates the Shabbat is considered for all halachic purposes, to be on the level of a member of the idol-worshipping nations."

So when someone goes from gaining the greatest treasure HaShem has in the world to now he’s about to lose it, but not just lose it, but turn into an idol worshipper. We now understand why the Sages speak so harshly on sinners.

The Zohar Kadosh says "every Friday afternoon, there is an announcement broadcast throughout every section of Gehinnom (Hell) that all the suffering of the sinners has to be halted. but for those who didn't observe the Shabbat while they were alive, the fires of Gehinnom are never extinguished." This means that if a person committed sins and ended up in Gehinnom, but if they at least kept Shabbat it would grant them a break on Shabbat, and eventually leading to their release from Gehinnom. But if a person died without doing Teshuva (repentance) for Shabbat, the fire never goes out—not on Shabbat or ever.

The Chofetz Chaim elaborates furthers and says "that there are four different methods of Halachic execution. The simplest one is strangulation. For the more severe sins, a person is executed by decapitation by sword. But for the other more severe sins a person is executed by burning but the most terrible form of execution in the Torah is reserved for the worst possible sins: which is stoning. This punishment is reserved for the sin of desecrating Shabbat—the most terrible of all punishments that the Torah prescribes."

Now, one might ask, ‘What should I do if I’ve been desecrating Shabbat for years?’ First and foremost, do Teshuva and start observing Shabbat—it’s already a significant step toward repentance. Second, engage in Kiruv (bringing fellow Jews back to HaShem) to help others learn about the importance of Shabbat. You can either donate money or share lectures. Why? Because every time someone keeps Shabbat because of a lecture you shared or donation you made, it adds to your account and makes up for your past desecration of Shabbat. Instead of arriving in Shamayim as someone who kept Shabbat but still had 20-30 years of non-observance, imagine coming with a surplus of thousands of Shabbats—made possible by sharing lectures or making donations to support Shabbat teachings.

Personally, I recommend Rabbi Yaron Reuven for KIRUV work. He is very knowledgeable and holy. You can find his excellent teachings on the Holy Torah on YouTube. Rabbi Reuven doesn’t beat around the bush, and I’m confident he can assist you Be’Ezrat HaShem (with G-d’s help). if you want to donate to someone else just be cautious about where you donate, as misleading others through the donations to some strange person with a beard who doesn't really follow Torah will have bad consequences. By helping others keep Shabbat, you accumulate merit. You could complete Teshuva for those 20-30 years. From that point on, everything becomes extra, leading to an endless Olam Haba (World to Come) filled with goodness. There’s no greater happiness than arriving with a surplus.

There’s a video on YouTube called ‘HaShem Took Back His Millions.’ I highly suggest you watch it; it’s a good place to start your journey towards HaShem.

For anyone who disagrees with what was said, please provide sources from the Torah, as I have done. Judaism is not a religion of feelings; G-d gave us rules that all Israel accepted at Mount Sinai. If you don’t believe in the significance of the Torah of its Divinity, I recommend watching the video I mentioned. It will help demonstrate the Divinity of G-d. Keep moving forward, and don’t give up. If you’re still alive, that means HaShem wants you still. As a side note, doing KIRUV (outreach) without personal teshuva (repentance) won't work and one won't achieve Olam Haba and would still go to Gehinnom. It needs to be coupled together, because there’s no such thing as buying your way to Heaven in Judaism. so keep Shabbat, it's a lot easier than you think! (and the more you do it, the easier it becomes. And the more you do it, the more it becomes you)

Be’Ezrat HaShem, you will succeed in coming closer to HaShem—the G-d of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. (and i'm rooting for you and most of all and the only important thing is G-d wants you)

IF YOU”RE LOOKING FOR A CHANNEL ON HOW TO KEEP SHABBAT, I FOUND A RABBI ON YOUTUBE: Be’Ezrat HaShem LEARN WITH LERNER

You can find on his playlists how to keep a Shabbos Kitchen and you can even contact him, he can teach you personally how to keep Shabbos according to Halacha Be’Ezrat HaShem!

If you would like to support our KIRUV work, please DONATE here: https://www.beezrathashem.org/donate

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