Shabbat Protection

“And the dove returned to him in the evening…”. (Bereishit 8:11) 

Rescued from the Czar 

R’ Moshe Montefiore was a famous lobbyist who lived in England. When the Russian Czar issued horrific degrees against the Jewish communities of Russia, R’ Moshe was asked to meet with the Czar and use his skills to change the Czar’s mind and reverse the decrees. However, the Czar, angry and determined, decided to remove R’ Moshe from this world rather than listen to him make his case. 
 

R’ Moshe was staying at the home of a minister in Vilna. A letter arrived on Shabbat addressed to R’ Moshe and bearing the royal seal. However, R’ Moshe refused to open the letter which clearly contained a message from the Russian ruler. 
 

“Why aren’t you opening the letter?!” his host questioned. 
 

“I cannot open the letter on Shabbat,” he replied. 
 

Immediately, the host summoned his non-Jewish butler and ordered him to open the letter. When the butler opened it, he immediately dropped dead. The letter was laced with a lethal poison intended to kill R’ Moshe. 
 

When the Queen of England heard about what Czar Nicholas tried to do to one of her beloved and loyal subjects, she decided to go to war with the Russians, and England laid siege to Sevastopol. This became a well-known battle and the Russian suffered tremendous losses. 
 

This is just one example of the power of Shabbat. There are countless similar stories throughout history. Time and time again we see with our own eyes how observing Shabbat protects the yidden from the harm and evil plots of their enemies. Chazal taught (Shabbat 118b) that when the yidden keep Shabbat according to Halacha, not a single nation or peoples can harm them. 
  
 

The Shabbat Protection 

Dovid HaMelech wrote, אם תחנה עלי מחנה לא יירא לבי אם תקום עלי מלחמה בזאת אני בוטח…  

If a camp encamps against me, my heart shall not fear; if a war should rise up against me, in this I trust… (Tehillim 27:3) 
 

The Seforim HaKedoshim taught that Shabbat can be referred to as זאת – this. As it says, אשרי אנוש יעשה .זאת ובן אדם יחזיק בה שומר שבת מחללו

Fortunate is the man who will do this and the person who will hold fast to it, he who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it and guards his hand from doing any evil. (Yeshayahu 56:2) 
 

This is the deeper meaning of the pasuk in Tehillim: בזאת אני בוטח – in ‘this’ I trust… When you have bitachon and trust in the power of keeping Shabbat, then you will have nothing to fear. Your enemies will be unable to harm you. 

Among 70 Wolves 

Chazal taught (Shabbat 119b) that Yerushalayim was destroyed because the yidden were desecrating Shabbat. The Seforim HaKedoshim explain that the very existence of the Jewish people is supernatural; it defies logic and reasoning. The yidden existed in Yerushalayim despite being surrounded by nations who wanted to annihilate them, like a “sheep among 70 wolves”. 
 

When the yidden observe Shabbat, they attest and connect to the emunah that declares that Hashem defines and controls the very laws of nature. And, if He wishes to change or suspend those very laws, He can. Shabbat instills this emunah in the heart of those who meticulously sanctify Shabbat through its observance. And, when we have that emunah which we connect to through Shabbat, then we merit a level of protection that is supernatural, miraculous and beyond logic and reasoning. 

Riding A Lion 

There is a famous and bewildering story about HaRav HaGaon Ephraim Alnaqua, zt”l, that demonstrates the power of Shabbat’s protection: 
 

R’ Ephraim traveled from Morocco to Tlemcen in Algeria. The journey required that they would travel through a vast desert that was full of dangerous animals and Arab tribes that would rob and harm travelers. Therefore, the Rav traveled with a large caravan of armed people. When Shabbat arrived, the bodyguards and the rest of the caravan refused to stop. So, R’ Ephraim, determined not to desecrate Shabbat, left the group and decided to spend Shabbat alone in the desert. 
 

When Shabbat came, R’ Ephraim saw a large lion approaching. The lion was behaving submissively and was not threatening. The Rav understood that Hashem sent him a lion to protect him from the desert’s other creatures. When Shabbat ended, the lion approached the Rav. There was a snake wrapped around his neck and the lion motioned for the Rav to climb on top. The Rav saw that the lion wanted him to ride him while using the snake as a grip. 
 

Once atop, the lion took off and quickly caught up with the caravan that had already entered the city of Tlemcen. Everyone witnessed this miraculous sight. The story spread throughout the country. There is even a painting of the Rav arriving in the city riding a lion which became famous throughout Algeria as evidence of the supernatural protections a person merits through observing Shabbat. 

The Dove Returned 

Chazal compare (Brachot 53b) Bnei Yisroel to a dove, as it says (Tehillim 68:14), כנפי יונה, the feathers of a dove… Just as a dove can escape from its enemies with its wings, so too, Bnei Yisroel can be saved through the mitzvot. 
 

This concept is alluded to by the dove who returned to Noach HaTzaddik: 

The Seforim HaKedoshim explain that this took place on Shabbat evening. Therefore, the pasuk says, “And the dove returned”… When the yidden commit to keeping Shabbat, while “in the evening”, in the darkness of galut, exile. 
 

“And behold it had plucked an olive leaf in its mouth”. This alludes to the words of emunah and faith that a person uses to plant that faith firmly in their hearts like an olive tree’s roots. As the pasuk says (Tehillim 52:10), ואני כזית רענן בבית אלקים בטחתי בחסד אלקים עולם ועד, But I am like a fresh olive tree in the house of God; I have trusted in the kindness of God forever and ever… 
 

Then, “Noah knew that the water had abated from upon the earth”… The threats of those who want to harm Bnei Yisroel will be weakened, and their power will recede like the waters of the flood. 
 

Through observing Shabbat, even while surrounded by vicious enemies in galut, the yidden merit a supernatural protection from Above. 

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The Kalever Rebbe is the seventh Rebbe of the Kaalov Chasidic dynasty, begun by his ancestor who was born to his previously childless parents after receiving a blessing from the Baal Shem Tov zy”a, and later learned under the Maggid of Mezeritch zt”l. The Rebbe has been involved in outreach for more than 30 years and writes weekly emails on understanding current issues through the Torah. You can sign up at www.kaalov.org.