* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
One of the most moving comments of Rashi, the greatest and most important Torah commentator, appears at the end of the Torah’s description of the creation of the world. After the six days of creation—Shabbat is also created.
“What was the world lacking?” asks Rashi. He answers: “Rest. Shabbat came—rest came. The work was completed and finished.”
God finished creating the world and He rested. From that time forward, we rest every Shabbat because the Creator of the world rested.
This is such a critical message for all workaholics, and for a culture that values non-stop activity and 24-hour-a-day availability. Sometimes the holiest work we can do is not to do anything at all— but instead to rest, sanctify our lives, be a blessing to others, let go, and fill ourselves up. Instead of directing our activity outward, we need to turn inward and upward to heaven.
Sometimes, as Rashi asserts, what is missing in our world is not more activity— but rest.
And tomorrow night, once again, rest will descend upon the world.
Shabbat Shalom
