Just One Shabbos!

 

It’s a classic! I listened to the Mordechai Ben David song “Just One Shabbos” in my youth. My kids sang it in school. I imagine some of you are now singing it in your heads.

The lyrics tells the story of the transformative power of Shabbat. The chorus of “Just one Shabbos, and we’ll all be free!” invokes the Rabbinic teaching (Jerusalem Talmud Ta’anit 1:1): “If Israel would keep one Shabbat properly, David’s son (Moshiach) would immediately come.” This statement is the motivation for initiatives like Shabbat Across America, The Shabbat Project, and other efforts to encourage more Jews to experience and observe Shabbat. It’s a beautiful thing and might just bring the redemption.

While I am a big fan of large Shabbat gatherings, I am not so sure we’ll get all Israel to keep Shabbat together. I understand the statement as a call for each of us to make Shabbat the best we possibly can.

During this time of year, we review of our past actions, recognize our mistakes, repent, and resolve to do better. Sounds simple enough, but it can be quite a tall order. Where do we start? On what should we focus?

Rav Yehuda Amital, the late Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion, suggested we keep it simple. In his inimitable wisdom, he said we should focus on three things.

1. Identify and focus on the mitzvah or aveirah, the good actions or challenges, with which we struggle most.

2. Choose a mitzvah we enjoy and build upon it. It might be prayer, minyan attendance, blessings, or volunteering. Add something to something at which we already are succeeding.

3. Everyone should focus on Shabbat and find a way to enhance it. Attend services in shul, invite guests, add zemirot (songs) or a Dvar Torah to the meal. Each of us can make the Shabbat experience just a little better and more meaningful.

This is the first Shabbat of 5783. The year ahead may not see all Israel observe “Just One Shabbos” together, but it can definitely be the year we take our Shabbat and find “just one way” to make it – and our entire year – more exalted, liberating, and meaningful.