The Sanctity of Shabbos

Our Parshah discusses the constuction of the holy vessels of the Mishkan.
The Chida zt”l explains that although we have been bereft of the Beis Hamikdash and its vessels for so long, each vessel has a symbolic significance that applies to every Jew, at all times. The golden table represents our own table, and the work that we do in good faith to keep food on it. We should invite Torah scholars, and the poor, to share from what we have. The table also represents Shabbos, a taste of the world to come. The great light of Shabbos descends when we pray, and when we eat the Shabbos meals—each one uplifts us more. The table and the menorah must face one another. The menorah represents the Torah, and each of the seven candles represents the seven days of the week permeated with Torah and sanctity. Six of them lean inward, towards the seventh, the Shabbos, because keeping Shabbos is the source of all blessing, spiritual and material.

Once, while visiting a town close to Radin, the Chofetz Chyim zt”l summoned a certain Jew to him. This Jew owned a brick factory that also produced on Shabbos. He claimed that if he stopped the furnaces for Shabbos, he would lose two extra days of production in re-heating the furnace.

The Chofetz Chayim turned to this man and said, “I knew your late father. I attended his wedding and also your bris. As you can see, I am already a very old man and I will soon be seeing your father. He will surely ask me as to how you are doing. What shall I tell him?” The Chofetz Chayim broke down and started to shed bitter tears.

In a choked voice he continued. “Shall I tell him that you violate the holy Shabbos? How can I possibly cause him such pain?”

The factory owner began to sob miserably and promised to sell his business. But the Chofetz Chayim was not appeased. His tone turned suddenly stern. “Don’t put this off until tomorrow. Do it now! You may not have a tomorrow!”