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Shabbat Observance and Zalman's Challenge: the Fence, the Gate or the Open Field?

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Shabbat Observance and Zalman's Challenge: the Fence, the Gate or the Open Field?
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ByEvan Krame
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The Jewish Studio
"The Sabbath is more than a mere set of rules. It is another way of life completely, totally divorced from weekday life." Orthodox Union.
שמות כ׳:ח׳
(ח) זָכ֛וֹר֩ אֶת־י֥֨וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖֜ת לְקַדְּשֽׁ֗וֹ׃
Exodus 20:8
(8) Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.
דברים ה׳:י״ב
שָׁמ֛֣וֹר אֶת־י֥וֹם֩ הַשַּׁבָּ֖֨ת לְקַדְּשׁ֑֜וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוְּךָ֖֣ ׀ יְהֹוָ֥֣ה אֱלֹהֶֽ֗יךָ׃
Deuteronomy 5:12
Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as your God יהוה has commanded you.
ישעיהו נ״ח:י״ג-י״ד

(יג) אִם־תָּשִׁ֤יב מִשַּׁבָּת֙ רַגְלֶ֔ךָ עֲשׂ֥וֹת חֲפָצֶ֖ךָ בְּי֣וֹם קׇדְשִׁ֑י וְקָרָ֨אתָ לַשַּׁבָּ֜ת עֹ֗נֶג לִקְד֤וֹשׁ יְהֹוָה֙ מְכֻבָּ֔ד וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ֙ מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת דְּרָכֶ֔יךָ מִמְּצ֥וֹא חֶפְצְךָ֖ וְדַבֵּ֥ר דָּבָֽר׃ (יד) אָ֗ז תִּתְעַנַּג֙ עַל־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהִרְכַּבְתִּ֖יךָ עַל־[בָּ֣מֳתֵי] (במותי) אָ֑רֶץ וְהַאֲכַלְתִּ֗יךָ נַחֲלַת֙ יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב אָבִ֔יךָ כִּ֛י פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃ {פ}

Isaiah 58:13-14

(13) If you rest your foot on the sabbath, From pursuing your affairs on My holy day; If you call the sabbath “delight,” GOD’s holy day “honored”; And if you honor it and go not your ways, Nor look to your affairs, nor strike bargains— (14) Then you can seek the favor of GOD. I will set you astride the heights of the earth, And let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob — For the mouth of GOD has spoken.

1. What does the image of "resting the foot" add to the concept of shabbat?
2. In addition to refraining from work, what positive thoughts must one bring to shabbat?
3. Does Isaiah mean to juxtapose "your ways" and "the favor of God?"
משנה שבת ז׳:ב׳

(ב) אֲבוֹת מְלָאכוֹת אַרְבָּעִים חָסֵר אֶחָת. הַזּוֹרֵעַ. וְהַחוֹרֵשׁ. וְהַקּוֹצֵר. וְהַמְעַמֵּר. הַדָּשׁ. וְהַזּוֹרֶה. הַבּוֹרֵר. הַטּוֹחֵן. וְהַמְרַקֵּד. וְהַלָּשׁ. וְהָאוֹפֶה. הַגּוֹזֵז אֶת הַצֶּמֶר. הַמְלַבְּנוֹ. וְהַמְנַפְּצוֹ. וְהַצּוֹבְעוֹ. וְהַטּוֹוֶה. וְהַמֵּסֵךְ. וְהָעוֹשֶׂה שְׁנֵי בָתֵּי נִירִין. וְהָאוֹרֵג שְׁנֵי חוּטִין. וְהַפּוֹצֵעַ שְׁנֵי חוּטִין. הַקּוֹשֵׁר. וְהַמַּתִּיר. וְהַתּוֹפֵר שְׁתֵּי תְפִירוֹת. הַקּוֹרֵעַ עַל מְנָת לִתְפֹּר שְׁתֵּי תְפִירוֹת. הַצָּד צְבִי. הַשּׁוֹחֲטוֹ. וְהַמַּפְשִׁיטוֹ. הַמּוֹלְחוֹ, וְהַמְעַבֵּד אֶת עוֹרוֹ. וְהַמּוֹחֲקוֹ. וְהַמְחַתְּכוֹ. הַכּוֹתֵב שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת. וְהַמּוֹחֵק עַל מְנָת לִכְתֹּב שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת. הַבּוֹנֶה. וְהַסּוֹתֵר. הַמְכַבֶּה. וְהַמַּבְעִיר. הַמַּכֶּה בַפַּטִּישׁ. הַמּוֹצִיא מֵרְשׁוּת לִרְשׁוּת. הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ אֲבוֹת מְלָאכוֹת אַרְבָּעִים חָסֵר אֶחָת:

Mishnah Shabbat 7:2

(2) This fundamental mishna enumerates those who perform the primary categories of labor prohibited on Shabbat, which number forty-less-one. They are grouped in accordance with their function: One who sows, and one who plows, and one who reaps, and one who gathers sheaves into a pile, and one who threshes, removing the kernel from the husk, and one who winnows threshed grain in the wind, and one who selects the inedible waste from the edible, and one who grinds, and one who sifts the flour in a sieve, and one who kneads dough, and one who bakes. Additional primary categories of prohibited labor are the following: One who shears wool, and one who whitens it, and one who combs the fleece and straightens it, and one who dyes it, and one who spins the wool, and one who stretches the threads of the warp in the loom, and one who constructs two meshes, tying the threads of the warp to the base of the loom, and one who weaves two threads, and one who severs two threads for constructive purposes, and one who ties a knot, and one who unties a knot, and one who sews two stitches with a needle, as well as one who tears a fabric in order to sew two stitches. One who traps a deer, or any living creature, and one who slaughters it, and one who flays it, and one who salts its hide, a step in the tanning process, and one who tans its hide, and one who smooths it, removing hairs and veins, and one who cuts it into measured parts. One who writes two letters and one who erases in order to write two letters. One who builds a structure, and one who dismantles it, one who extinguishes a fire, and one who kindles a fire. One who strikes a blow with a hammer to complete the production process of a vessel (Rabbeinu Ḥananel), and one who carries out an object from domain to domain. All these are primary categories of labor, and they number forty-less-one.

The Baraita states (Shabbat 95a): “Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar says in the name of Rabbi Eliezer, a woman may not apply red color on her face on Shabbat for this constitutes coloring.” The prohibition to color on Shabbat extends to a woman to color her face on Shabbat. Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch (Chapter 303, Section 25) rules likewise: “A woman may not apply red color to her face on Shabbat due to the prohibition of coloring. For the same reason, a woman may not apply blue color around her eyes (eyeliner) on Shabbat.” Based on the ruling of Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch, the application of lipstick is prohibited on Shabbat because of the prohibition of coloring. It would seem that applying powdered cosmetics to one’s face (such as blush and bronzer) should likewise be prohibited on Shabbat, for it is also similar to the prohibition of applying red color to one’s face.
שבת קל״ט ב:ח׳-ט׳
אֲמַרוּ לֵיהּ רַבָּנַן לְרַב אָשֵׁי: חֲזִי מָר הַאי צוּרְבָּא מֵרַבָּנַן וְרַב הוּנָא בֶּן רַבִּי חִיּוֹן שְׁמֵיהּ, וְאָמְרִי לַהּ רַב הוּנָא בְּרַבִּי חִלְווֹן שְׁמֵיהּ, דְּשָׁקֵל בְּרָא דְתוּמָא וּמַנַּח בְּבַרְזָא דְּדַנָּא, וְאָמַר: לְאַצְּנוֹעֵיהּ קָמִיכַּוֵינָא. וְאָזֵיל וְנָאֵים בְּמַבָּרָא, וְעָבַר לְהַךְ גִּיסָא וְסָיַיר פִּירֵי, וְאָמַר: אֲנָא לְמֵינַם קָמִיכַּוֵינָא! אֲמַר לְהוּ: הַעֲרָמָה קָאָמְרַתְּ? הַעֲרָמָה בִּדְרַבָּנַן הִיא, וְצוּרְבָּא מֵרַבָּנַן לָא אָתֵי לְמִיעְבַּד לְכַתְּחִילָּה.
Shabbat 139b:8-9
On the topic of artifice, the Gemara relates that the Rabbis said to Rav Ashi: Master, observe this Torah scholar, and Rav Huna ben Rabbi Ḥayon is his name, and some say that his name is Rav Huna, son of Rabbi Ḥalvan, who took a slice of garlic and placed it in the spout of a barrel, and said: I intend to store it. He thereby stopped the spout on Shabbat. And similarly, he went and slept in a ferry on the river, and the ferryman sailed the ferry across the river, and he thereby crossed to the other side and inspected the fruit of his vineyard. He said: I intend to sleep. In this way, he crosses the river by boat on Shabbat, which is a prohibited activity. Rav Ashi said to them: Are you speaking of artifice? This is artifice employed to circumvent a rabbinic prohibition, and a Torah scholar will not come to perform the action ab initio without artifice. Therefore, there is no reason to prohibit him from doing so.
A Kavannah For Shabbat from Reb Zalman
I affirm
that God affirmed
and sanctified
the Holy Shabbat;
I raise all toil,
suffering,
and frustration
of the past week
as my sacrifice to God
and let go of it.I affirm the model
of our ancestor’s rest
and sanctification of Shabbat.
I affirm the perfection
of what is in the world,
and I surrender all the urgings
and all the strivings
on the plane of action (Asiyah),
and I offer my body to rest.
I affirm the union
of my Nefesh
with the Holy Queen and Bride (Malkah Qadishah).
I affirm the union
of my Ruaḥ with God,
the lover of the infinitesimal and the particular
with God as the Zer Anpin.
I affirm the union
of my Neshamah
with the resting Creator,
the Revealer of Sinai
and the Redeemer of the days of Mashiaḥ.
And I affirm the union
of my additional soul, my Neshamah Yeterah
with the Ancient of Days (Atiqah Kadishah)
to whom eternity is ever present.
I affirm the blessings
that come down for the coming week,
and my willingness to be mindful
of the Holy Shabbat
even in the midst of the week.
The Ahad Ha'am once said, “More than the Jewish People have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.”
"Sabbaths are like periods inserted into an otherwise endless run-on sentence." "Judaism with Feeling" Jewish with Feeling, Rabbi Zalman Schachter Shalomi (ZSS) and Joel Segel (JS)
It is astonishing how the Sabbath has been a form of liberation in age after age, from the tyranny of slavery three thousand years ago to that of technology now. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
"Modern Jews are inclined to resent such restrictions. On the other hand, I believe to simply ignore them altogether, is to risk tossing out Shabbat with the bathwater." "Judaism with Feeling", ZSS and JS
"Save up for Shabbos those activities that pamper your soul. Here I would take a more lenient approach toward certain activities that traditional halakhah forbids, as long as they are done in the spirit of Shabbos. If you enjoy gardening for its own sake, rather than regard it as a chore you'd just as soon delegate to someone else; if you're enjoying spending time with your plants rather than working on a crop with which to feed your family, then gardening is a Shabbosdik activity for you. If you're a computer programmer by trade but a potter at heart, and if setting aside some Shabbos time each week would allow you to enjoy sitting down at the potter's wheel, then pottery is a Shabbosdik activity for you.
We might swear off the telephone during our Shabbos celebration – nothing can intrude on a Shabbos like a telemarketing call! – but have a special signal for family and friends (or simply use caller ID). A friend of mine used to have a telephone date on Shabbos afternoon with a woman he was engaged to, who lived in another city, and the first thing they'd discuss was their thoughts on the Torah portion of the week. The telephone becomes a sacred instrument when it allows us to do things like this." Jewish with Feeling. ZSS, JS
"The meaning of the Sabbath is to celebrate time rather than space. Six days a week we live under the tyranny of things of space; on the Sabbath we try to become attuned to holiness in time. It is a day on which we are called upon to share in what is eternal in time, to turn from the results of creation to the mystery of creation, from the world of creation to the creation of the world." The Sabbath, Abraham Joshua Heschel
“Holiness is the space we make for God. In the simplest and most elegant way, holiness is to humanity what tzimtzum is to God. Just as God effaces Himself to make space for mankind, so we efface ourselves to make space for God.”
Covenant and Conversation: Exodus, p. 142 Lord Jonathan Sacks
By taking some restrictions upon myself and limiting my needs, I can begin to see what happens when I don't need anything. ZSS
"Every action on the Shabbat must not be merely instrumental in preparing for G-d's dwelling, but must be an act of hospitality toward G-d." Gate to the Heart, ZSS & Robert Esformes
"The Shabbat is particularly difficult to experience and work out in the absence of a friendly, intimate group, engaged in the same work. But we will concern ourselves here with the individual. . . ." Gate to the Heart, ZSS & RE.
“Sabbath isn't about resting perfectly; it's about resting in the One who is perfect.”
― Shelly Miller, Rhythms of Rest: Finding the Spirit of Sabbath in a Busy World
משנה שבת ז׳:א׳-ב׳
כְּלָל גָּדוֹל אָמְרוּ בַשַּׁבָּת. כָּל הַשּׁוֹכֵחַ עִקַּר שַׁבָּת וְעָשָׂה מְלָאכוֹת הַרְבֵּה בְשַׁבָּתוֹת הַרְבֵּה, אֵינוֹ חַיָּב אֶלָּא חַטָּאת אֶחָת. הַיּוֹדֵעַ עִקַּר שַׁבָּת וְעָשָׂה מְלָאכוֹת הַרְבֵּה בְּשַׁבָּתוֹת הַרְבֵּה, חַיָּב עַל כָּל שַׁבָּת וְשַׁבָּת. הַיּוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא שַׁבָּת וְעָשָׂה מְלָאכוֹת הַרְבֵּה בְּשַׁבָּתוֹת הַרְבֵּה, חַיָּב עַל כָּל אַב מְלָאכָה וּמְלָאכָה. הָעוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכוֹת הַרְבֵּה מֵעֵין מְלָאכָה אַחַת, אֵינוֹ חַיָּב אֶלָּא חַטָּאת אֶחָת: אֲבוֹת מְלָאכוֹת אַרְבָּעִים חָסֵר אֶחָת. הַזּוֹרֵעַ. וְהַחוֹרֵשׁ. וְהַקּוֹצֵר. וְהַמְעַמֵּר. הַדָּשׁ. וְהַזּוֹרֶה. הַבּוֹרֵר. הַטּוֹחֵן. וְהַמְרַקֵּד. וְהַלָּשׁ. וְהָאוֹפֶה. הַגּוֹזֵז אֶת הַצֶּמֶר. הַמְלַבְּנוֹ. וְהַמְנַפְּצוֹ. וְהַצּוֹבְעוֹ. וְהַטּוֹוֶה. וְהַמֵּסֵךְ. וְהָעוֹשֶׂה שְׁנֵי בָתֵּי נִירִין. וְהָאוֹרֵג שְׁנֵי חוּטִין. וְהַפּוֹצֵעַ שְׁנֵי חוּטִין. הַקּוֹשֵׁר. וְהַמַּתִּיר. וְהַתּוֹפֵר שְׁתֵּי תְפִירוֹת. הַקּוֹרֵעַ עַל מְנָת לִתְפֹּר שְׁתֵּי תְפִירוֹת. הַצָּד צְבִי. הַשּׁוֹחֲטוֹ. וְהַמַּפְשִׁיטוֹ. הַמּוֹלְחוֹ, וְהַמְעַבֵּד אֶת עוֹרוֹ. וְהַמּוֹחֲקוֹ. וְהַמְחַתְּכוֹ. הַכּוֹתֵב שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת. וְהַמּוֹחֵק עַל מְנָת לִכְתֹּב שְׁתֵּי אוֹתִיּוֹת. הַבּוֹנֶה. וְהַסּוֹתֵר. הַמְכַבֶּה. וְהַמַּבְעִיר. הַמַּכֶּה בַפַּטִּישׁ. הַמּוֹצִיא מֵרְשׁוּת לִרְשׁוּת. הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ אֲבוֹת מְלָאכוֹת אַרְבָּעִים חָסֵר אֶחָת:
Mishnah Shabbat 7:1-2
The Sages stated a significant principle with regard to the halakhot of Shabbat: One who forgets the essence of Shabbat, i.e., one who is entirely ignorant of the mitzva of Shabbat according to Torah law, and performed numerous prohibited labors on multiple Shabbatot, is liable to bring only one sin-offering for all those labors when he becomes aware that those actions were prohibited. One who knows the essence of Shabbat but forgets which day is Shabbat, i.e., one who lost track of the days of the week, and performs numerous prohibited labors on multiple Shabbatot is liable to bring a sin-offering for each Shabbat when he becomes aware that he performed those actions on Shabbat. One who is aware that the day is Shabbat but temporarily forgot that certain labors were prohibited and performed numerous prohibited labors on multiple Shabbatot is liable to bring a sin-offering for each and every primary category of labor that he performed. One who performs numerous prohibited labors subsumed under a single category of labor is liable to bring only one sin-offering. This fundamental mishna enumerates those who perform the primary categories of labor prohibited on Shabbat, which number forty-less-one. They are grouped in accordance with their function: One who sows, and one who plows, and one who reaps, and one who gathers sheaves into a pile, and one who threshes, removing the kernel from the husk, and one who winnows threshed grain in the wind, and one who selects the inedible waste from the edible, and one who grinds, and one who sifts the flour in a sieve, and one who kneads dough, and one who bakes. Additional primary categories of prohibited labor are the following: One who shears wool, and one who whitens it, and one who combs the fleece and straightens it, and one who dyes it, and one who spins the wool, and one who stretches the threads of the warp in the loom, and one who constructs two meshes, tying the threads of the warp to the base of the loom, and one who weaves two threads, and one who severs two threads for constructive purposes, and one who ties a knot, and one who unties a knot, and one who sews two stitches with a needle, as well as one who tears a fabric in order to sew two stitches. One who traps a deer, or any living creature, and one who slaughters it, and one who flays it, and one who salts its hide, a step in the tanning process, and one who tans its hide, and one who smooths it, removing hairs and veins, and one who cuts it into measured parts. One who writes two letters and one who erases in order to write two letters. One who builds a structure, and one who dismantles it, one who extinguishes a fire, and one who kindles a fire. One who strikes a blow with a hammer to complete the production process of a vessel (Rabbeinu Ḥananel), and one who carries out an object from domain to domain. All these are primary categories of labor, and they number forty-less-one.
“Pathways toward a New Shabbat Do 1. Stay at home. Spend quality time with family and real friends. 2. Celebrate with others: at the table, in the synagogue, with friends or community. 3. Study or read something that will edify, challenge, or make you grow. 4. Be alone. Take some time for yourself. Check in with yourself. Review your week. Ask yourself where you are in your life. 5. Mark the beginning and end of this sacred time by lighting candles and making kiddush on Friday night and saying havdalah on Saturday night. Don’t 6. Don’t do anything you have to do for your work life. This includes obligatory reading, homework for kids (even without writing!), unwanted social obligations, and preparing for work as well as doing your job itself. 7. Don’t spend money. Separate completely from the commercial culture that surrounds us so much. This includes doing business of all sorts. No calls to the broker, no following up on ads, no paying of bills. It can all wait. 8. Don’t use the computer. Turn off the iPhone or smartphone or whatever device has replaced it by the time you read this. Live and breathe for a day without checking messages. Declare your freedom from this new master of our minds and our time. Find the time for face-to-face conversations with people around you, without Facebook. 9. Don’t travel. Avoid especially commercial travel and places like airports, hotel check-ins, and similar depersonalizing encounters. Stay free of situations in which people are likely to tell you to “have a nice day” (Shabbat already is a nice day, thank you). 10. Don’t rely on commercial or canned video entertainment, including the TV as well as the computer screen. Discover what there is to do in life when you are not being entertained.”
― Arthur Green, Judaism's Ten Best Ideas: A Brief Guide for Seekers
Could we transform ordinary activities by framing them in terms of shabbes?
Laundry on shabbat? Exodus 19:10 "and they shall wash their clothes."
Gardening on shabbat? Genesis 2:15 God יהוה settled the Human in the garden of Eden, to till it and tend it.
Playing: Genesis and 26:8 When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelek king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.