THE CENTRALITY OF SHABBAT

Imagine that you were given the following task: Choose the most appropriate prophetic passage for the most important day of the Jewish year. Just such a challenge and opportunity was given to our Sages. They had to find the right message to be used as the Haftarah on Yom Kippur.

They didn't have to look too far. Chapter 58 of the Prophet Isaiah is in reality a perfect "sermon" for Yom Kippur. The prophet decries the sins and transgressions of the people. No, they are not lax in fulfilling their "ritual" obligations. They fast and pray regularly. But they don't seem to comprehend that prayer and fasting are only the beginnings of what God requires. What God expects of us is moral and ethical behavior. The real purpose of fasting is to sensitize us to the plight of the hungry and the homeless. If we do nothing to help those who need help, all our fasting and all our praying will be to no avail.

But Isaiah's "sermon" doesn't end here. It goes on to talk about the observance of Shabbat. It suggests that the observance of Shabbat will bring you delight and raise you to great spiritual heights. It will bring joy and fulfillment.

Now the question is: What does the observance of Shabbat have to do with atonement, fasting and prayer? What does it have to do with Isaiah's central theme that God is ultimately more concerned with our moral and ethical behavior than with our ritual behavior?

The answer is that Shabbat is the core institution of Judaism. It is indispensable to the Jewish soul. It is what makes us special, unique as a people. Without Shabbat observance, there is ultimately no Judaism and no Jewish people. Shabbat is the life force that makes us who we are.

Shabbat has not prospered in America. And, as a result, while we, the Jewish people have prospered materially, we haven't prospered spiritually. Our continuity is in question because Shabbat has been banished from too many Jewish lives and too many Jewish homes.

But Shabbat is not irretrievably lost. It can be recaptured. It is waiting for us each and every week. It offers us the opportunity to enrich our lives beyond measure and strengthen our identity as Jews.

Isaiah's words and thoughts ring to us across the centuries: V'karata laShabbat oneg — "You shall call Shabbat a delight." (58:13). We can make Shabbat once again "the most precious of days."