[Photos below.] Yesterday, in Oak Park, MI, the community was treated to an unprecedented event. Six rabbonim from the community addressed various aspects of Shabbos Kodesh at a morning brunch that took place at Machon LaTorah.
Rabbi Binyomin Adler, who writes a weekly Shabbos email, talked about the importance of preparing for Shabbos in thought and in action.
Rabbi Avrohom Jacobovitz the director of Machon LaTorah, spoke passionately about the holiness and sweetness of Shabbos. Rabbi Jacobovitz explained how the Jews complained in Marah because “marim heim,” they were bitter. The Torah in Parshas Vaeschanan states, “Shamor es yom HaShabbos likadsho, kaasher tzivcho HaShem Elokecho.” Rashi writes that Hashem commanded us in Marah. The Gemara states that zachor and shamor were said together. This means that not only the zachor, i.e. the sweet part of Shabbos, was commanded to the Jewish People, but also the shamor, the perceived negative aspect of Shabbos, was given to the Jewish People.
Rabbi Eli Yelen, rov of Congregation Yagdil Torah in Southfield and head of the Detroit Teacher’s Seminary, spoke about shemiras Shabbos, embellishing this idea with episodes from the lives of the Steipler and other gedolim who were moser nefesh for shemiras Shabbos.
Rabbi Alon Tolwin, Director of Aish HaTorah in Detroit, mesmerized the audience with the idea of kavod Shabbos. “Kavod,” said Rabbi Tolwin, “is from the word kaveid, which means heavy. The idea is that in order to honor the Shabbos one must treaty it seriously. This applies to all areas of kavod, such as kibud av vaeim and Kavod HaMikdash.”
Rabbi Aharon Baruch, Mashgiach at Yeshivas Darchei Torah, spoke beautifully regarding the idea of Oneg Shabbos, quoting from Rav Shimshon Pinkus’s sefer Shabbos Malkesa. Rabbi Baruch quoted the idea that Shabbos is from a different world, and this allows us to indulge on Shabbos in the physical without destroying the spiritual.
The final speaker was Rabbi Mordechai Smilowitz, who inspired the audience with the explanation of neshama yeseira based on the words of the Reishis Chochma and the Nefesh HaChaim.
The event was so successful that one of the attendees suggested afterwards that this presentation of Shabbos be introduced in the local schools.
There are plans underway to expand the Shabbos initiative on a national level.
See below for photos of the event:
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