Parsha Thoughts: Ki Tisa 5776

V’shamru bnei Yisroel es ha’Shabbos, la’asos es ha’Shabbos l’dorosam bris olam… The Modzitzer Rebbe quotes the gemarah that tells us that if only we were to keep 2 consecutive Shabbasos as a collective group we would be redeemed immediately. The Rebbe explains that there are two unique aspects to Shabbos; there is the v’shamru aspect which involves abstaining from violating the Shabbos (39 melachos), and there is the la’asos aspect which includes an active participation in the holiness of Shabbos by learning and engaging in a spiritual environment that you create for the Shabbos. These are the two Shabbosos, says the Rebbe, that the gemarah is referring to. If we can keep both aspects of the Shabbos then it will be l’dorosam bris olam – an eternal covenant with Klal Yisroel for years and generations to come through the redemptive process.