Surviving the War

“And you shall observe My Sabbaths. I am the Lord, your God. (Vayikra 19:3)”  
 

Teshuva Through Shabbat 

I once asked a Ba’al Teshuva what had inspired him and his family to become Torah observant Jews, what was the catalyst for them to change their lives. He shared with me his story: 
 

“My weekends used to be a nightmare. I would work hard all week trying to earn a living for my family. When Friday finally arrived, I would go to the bar on the way home with some co-workers. When I got home, I would take a nap without even seeing my children. After a few hours, I would wake up. My friends would come by. We would hang out, drink, and joke around until late into the evening. We were rowdy. My house would become like a bar! 
 

“Eventually, everyone would leave, and I would go to bed and sleep until late the next morning. When I woke up, I would watch a football game with my friends. Screaming, cheering, and drinking. By the time the game was over, and I got home, my entire family was asleep. 
 

“My wife was lonely. My children were becoming like strangers. I felt disappointed and bitter realizing that my behavior was destroying my family, and alienating myself from their lives. And then everything would start again. It was a terrible cycle. I was full of regret. But I did not know what to do. 
 

“One Saturday morning, a religious family passed by my window on their way home from shul (synagogue). The children were holding their father’s hands. They were smiling as they were talking together. There was a radiance illuminating their faces. My mind started comparing how this family spent their weekends to how I was. I was jealous. I wanted what they had. I wanted my family back. 
 

“I told my wife that I thought we should start keeping Shabbat. Not only was she open to the idea, but she was also excited about it. Our family began keeping Shabbat according to all the laws and traditions. 
 

“Almost immediately when we began keeping Shabbats, we started feeling a stronger sense of emunah, faith, and we were inspired to become completely Torah observant Jews.” 
  
 

Shabbat Empowers Emunah 

The seforim Hakaddoshim explain that the observance of Shabbat has the power to increase someone’s emunah, faith, and that, in turn, impacts and enhances all the other mitzvot that he does. Therefore, there are many stories like the above one. 
 

When someone observes Shabbat, they are committing at least one day a week to Hashem and their Yiddishkeit, their spiritual well-being. They ensure that for at least one day a week they disconnect from their devices, they do not worry about work or errands or anything else related to everyday life. They rest and focus on self-reflection, a chesbon hanefesh. This process inevitably leads to contemplation. They consider how there is a Creator of the World, Hashem, who constantly infuses this world with life and sustenance, and who has provided the Jews with an incredible opportunity to connect with Him through His mitzvot and Torah. They become self-aware of their purpose in this world. Their emunah is strengthened. 
 

This process is one of the primary purposes for Shabbat, as we say in the Shabbat prayers: “to remember the creation of the world”. Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 32) explains that the mitzvah of Shabbat is rooted in the idea of turning away from the daily burdens of this world, to focus on your relationship with Hashem, in order that your emunah should be strengthened, impacting all areas of your Yiddishkeit.  
 

Eliminate Doubts 

The Yetzer Harah is constantly trying to hinder your avodat Hashem, by introducing and infusing doubts in your faith. Shabbat inherently has the power to help eliminate those doubts and to fortify yourself from the Yetzer Harah’s cunning efforts. 
 

We clearly see this when a Jew begins observing Shabbat for the first time. They immediately start becoming more faithful, more observant, more committed, even though not all their questions have been answered. They are motivated and inspired by a burning desire born from their newly awakened sense of emunah, faith. 
 

This is aligned with Chazal when they taught (Shabbat 118b) that if someone keeps Shabbat according to its laws, even if that person was an idol worshiper like the Generation of Enosh, Hashem forgives him. Shabbat can transform even an idol worshipper. 
 

This power exists in every detail of the mitzvah of Shabbat, even in the most mundane aspects like the meals (seudot) on Shabbat. The Zohar (Yitro 88b) describes the Shabbat meals as “meals of faith.” The Hebrew word for “meal” is “seudah” which is rooted in the same word as the Hebrew word for “help”. The Shabbat Seudot helps empower one’s emunah. 
 

This opportunity of strengthening one’s emunah during the meals, is even more potent when you speak divrei Torah (words of Torah) at the table, talk about ideas of emunah, and sings songs that praise Hashem. This will impact and have a lasting impression on one’s faith that will carry him forward through the week ahead.  
 

The Spiritual Wars 

My ancestor, the great Tzadik Reb Itzhak Isaac of Kamarna explains (Shulchan HaTahor 242:2), that the Wars of Gog U’Magog that Chazal teaches us will precede the arrival of Mashiach, will be a spiritual war. Every yid must wage the battle, fight the war against the philosophies and cultures that deny Hashem’s existence which have begun to pollute the hearts of minds of the world, and that is permeating today’s society. This is what Chazal teach us (118a) that anyone who enjoys and partakes in the three meals on Shabbat will be saved from the Wars of Gog U’Magog. They will survive this spiritual war and their emunah will remain intact. That is the power of Shabbat. 

Faith From Keeping 

This is what the pasuk means: “You shall observe My Sabbaths” – and if you keep Shabbat properly, then, the pasuk continues, you will know that – “I am the Lord, your God.” You will have emunah, faith, in the reality of Hashem as your G-d. 
 

With Hashem’s help, everyone should recommit themselves to keeping Shabbat properly, to utilizing this special time to focus on their own spiritual growth and self-awareness. Through these efforts, may everyone’s Emunah be strengthened with their entire family. Amen. 

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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.