The first place Beneh Yisrael came to after crossing through the sea, as we read in Parashat Beshalah, was a place called Marah. The Torah tells us that during the time Beneh Yisrael were in Marah, שם שם לו חוק ומשפט – they were given a number of laws (15:25). Rashi lists the laws which they received at that point, one of which was Shabbat.
Later in this parashah, we read of the manna, the heavenly food which began falling each morning to feed Beneh Yisrael as they traveled through the desert.
Each year on Pesach, at the seder, we sing the song of Dayenu, which includes the following statement: אילו נתן לנו את המן ולא נתן לנו את השבת, דיינו – “If He had given us the manna, but not given us Shabbat, it would have been enough for us.” This line seems to present the events in the reverse order – implying that we first received the manna, and only then received the command of Shabbat. If Beneh Yisrael were given the mitzvah of Shabbat before being given the manna, then why does the Haggadah imply the opposite – that the manna came first, before Shabbat?
Some commentators answer by explaining that there are two aspects of Shabbat – the law of Shabbat, and the gift of Shabbat.
Shabbat is both an obligation that we bear, as well as a precious gift. The command of Shabbat was given to our ancestors at Marah, but the gift of Shabbat was given later.
Of course, we must approach Shabbat as, first and foremost, a religious obligation. But that is not all Shabbat is. Once we get used to observing the law of Shabbat, we enjoy the unique gift of Shabbat.
Personally speaking, I observe Shabbat for myself, just as much as I observe it for Hashem. I thoroughly enjoy it. Having the time and peace of mind to focus on my family is the greatest gift in the world.
Some people might ask, “But do you know what my Shabbat table looks like?! The kids fight and make a mess – it’s chaos!”
My response is a story told of the Hazon Ish, who once gave his student the following blessing: “You should have a lot of children, and your table should be upside-down!”
The student asked the Rabbi what he meant by “your table should be upside-down.” What kind of blessing is that?
The Hazon Ish explained that if a person has a lot of children and his table is not “upside-down,” then his children are not normal, G-d forbid. Normal children turn the table “upside-down.”
Shabbat is a precious gift even if the Shabbat table gets chaotic. Leaving all our pressures behind, forgetting about the stresses of the workweek, and focusing on the children is such a wonderful opportunity – even if the house is “upside-down.”
Let us not just observe Shabbat, but strive to appreciate this precious gift, and take full advantage of this golden opportunity to strengthen our bonds with the most important people in our lives – our children.