Shabbos and Bringing G-d into the World

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Shabbos and Bringing G-d into the World: Letters and Numbers of Torah - Vayakhel

In the beginning of this week's portion, Moses gathers the Jews together and tells them (Exodus 35:1): "These are the things that G-d commands to do." In this verse, the word "to do" (la'asot) is missing the letter vav. How does our labor during the work week "fill in" this missing vav?

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For more information click here to visit Rabbi Raskin's website.

Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin is the official Chabad emissary to downtown Brooklyn, rabbi of Congregation B’nai Avraham in Brooklyn Heights, New York and Dean of Brooklyn Heights Jewish Academy. He is the author of the books, “Thank You God for Making Me a Woman", "Letters of Light", "By Divine Design", and "Guardian of Israel", and the co-author of "The Rabbi & The CEO".

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Sherri Brooklyn March 8, 2013

Dear Rabbi Raskin. I never thought about speech as a "labor," but of course, as you pointed out, from Hashem's perspective it is. Thankfully, it is a labor we are permitted to do on shabbos! Reply

Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin Brooklyn, NY March 23, 2012

ALONE FOR SHABBOS Dear Anonymous,

First and foremost being the people of the book,we need to follow the book. The book being the code of Jewish law. In that book it states that on Shabbos we cannot drive a car etc. to the synagogue. Only in the holy temple when it stood (may it be rebuilt speedily-amen) were we able to do certain thing on the Shabbos.

However, even in synagogues which are called miniature holy temples, we may not violate the law.

You write that you are alone on Shabbos, I suggest that you contact your local Chabad house and ask them to find you a place to stay for Shabbos.

And by the way you are never alone; we the Jewish people know that we are never alone. Wherever we are, G-d is there too! Reply

shlomo woodridge, il March 22, 2012

it is a journey go to shul Reply

Anonymous Mesa, Arizona, USA March 15, 2012

Dear Rabbi Raskin,
If we can do the labor on the Shabbat for the sake of G-d, why then can we not go to the shul on Shabbat? I want to go to the shul on Shabbat. That is the only day I can be around my brethren. Usually I am very alone where I live. There is a Chabad center 9 miles from where I live, and there is another that is 4.5 miles from where I live. What would you suggest? I am a woman who is alone in this state of Arizona. No family, and also no Jewish friends. Would traveling this far be a sin? Thank you for you kind response. Reply

Letters and Numbers of Torah - Vayakhel