In Parshat Yitro, we encounter one of the most fundamental mitzvot in the Aseret HaDibrot:

“Zachor et Yom HaShabbat l’kad’sho” – “Remember the Shabbat day to sanctify it.”

The Torah commands us to work for six days and then rest on the seventh, “For in six days Hashem made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh He rested” (Shemot 20:9-10).

At first glance, this seems like a simple reminder that Hashem created the world and rested on Shabbat, but there is a much deeper message hidden here.

The True Purpose of Creation

To uncover this depth, let’s go back to Bereishit.

The very first Rashi on the Torah asks: Why does the Torah begin with Creation rather than with the first mitzvah given to Bnei Yisrael, “Hachodesh hazeh lachem” (the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh) in Parshat Bo?

Rashi answers that the Torah starts with Creation to establish that Hashem is the Master of the world. When the nations of the world accuse Bnei Yisrael of “stealing” Eretz Yisrael, we can respond:

“The entire world belongs to Hashem. He created it, and He gives it to whomever He chooses. He chose to give it to Bnei Yisrael.”

But there is another layer to this.

The next Rashi in Bereishit explains that the words “Bereishit bara” indicate that the world was created for Torah and for Yisrael:

• Torah – referred to as “Reishit Darko” (“the beginning of His ways”).
• Yisrael – called “Reishit Tevuato” (“the first of His produce”).

And the Midrash adds a third element:

• Bikkurim – the first fruits, brought to the Beit HaMikdash as an expression of gratitude to Hashem.

What Does This Teach Us About Shabbat?

When Hashem commands us to keep Shabbat, He is not just reminding us that He created the world. He is reminding us of why He created it.

The six days of work represent the physical world, where we build, toil, and create. But the seventh day—the day of rest and sanctity—is a day to reconnect to our higher purpose. Shabbat is not just about stopping work; it is about remembering why we are here.

Hashem created the world for Torah, for Am Yisrael, and for the kedushah of Eretz Yisrael. On Shabbat, we step back from our daily struggles and remind ourselves:

• We are part of something greater.
• Our lives are not just about material success, but about Torah and avodat Hashem.
• We have a mission in this world—to bring Hashem’s presence into our lives and into the world around us.

Living With This Perspective

Shabbat is not just a day of physical rest; it is a day of spiritual awakening. When we keep Shabbat, we testify not only that Hashem created the world, but that our lives have meaning, direction, and purpose.

May we all merit to internalize this message—to not just “rest” on Shabbat, but to use it as a day to remind ourselves why we are here:

To serve Hashem, to embrace Torah, and to bring kedushah into the world.

Shabbat Shalom!