Sacrificing for Shabbat
In order to properly observe Shabbat, we need to make certain sacrifices. For many people, this means giving up something which is very dear to them for the sake of Shabbat observance. Many businessmen, for example, find it very difficult to close their businesses on Shabbat, because they will lose valuable income. Others find it challenging to avoid speaking about business on Shabbat, because this is what they enjoy speaking about.
The story is told of a Rabbi who saw a boy smoking on Shabbat. He approached the young man and asked, “Tell me, if G-d would come and ask you for a cigarette, would you give Him one?”
“Of course I would,” the boy replied.
“Well,” the Rabbi said, “G-d does not smoke, and He does not want cigarettes. But if you refrain from smoking on Shabbat, it is like you’re giving Him a cigarette, because you’re parting with something that is very dear to you.”
We show our devotion to G-d and to Shabbat by sacrificing what is dear to us for the sake of observing Shabbat.
In more extreme cases, however, there are people who are prepared to make extraordinary sacrifices for the sake of Shabbat, such as sacrificing their livelihood, their dreams, or their prestige.
Rabbi Fischel Schachter told the story of Alex Clare, a Jewish musician born in London who grew up without any religious education. He was a passionate and talented musician, who sang, played several different instruments, and composed songs. He naturally dreamt of a successful musical career.
At the age of 22, Alex began learning about Judaism, and gradually began observing Shabbat and kashrut. And so when he was approached by a major recording company seeking to sign him to a contract, he made it clear to the company that he would be unable to perform on Shabbat. The company, recognizing Alex’s exceptional talent, agreed to the condition.
Alex recorded his debut album, but he needed to promote it by performing concerts. As it turned out, however, every single event was scheduled for Friday night, and so he needed to turn down each one. Other outstanding opportunities presented themselves, but they were on Yom Tov, and so, with remarkable courage, Alex refused. Finally, the company told him that if he continued refusing to perform and promote the album, he would be guilty of a breach of contract, and his young music career would come to an end. Alex at this point was penniless, and was not able to even make his next rent payment. But he thought of the famous story of Rav Amnon, who sacrificed his life in order not to renounce his faith. Alex figured that if Rav Amnon could give his life for his religion, then he could give up his musical career for his religion. And he did. In an instant, all his dreams were shattered. He sacrificed that which was most dear to him – his aspirations of a career in music – for the sake of Shabbat.
Several months later, he received a call from Microsoft, which wanted to use one of the songs from his album to promote their newest version of Internet Explorer. Needless to say, he happily agreed. Microsoft used the song in one of their ads, and it quickly became a popular hit around the world, reaching the top of the charts in several countries. Soon enough, his album sold six million copies. In an instant, Alex Clare became a multimillionaire.
He thought he was sacrificing everything for Shabbat, but in truth, he lost nothing.
Another story was told by Rav Yehuda Ades of the famous Israeli writer S.Y. Agnon, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1966. A religious Jew, Agnon faced a problem accepting the award, because the award ceremony took place on Shabbat. The Israeli Prime Minister at the time, Golda Meir, pleaded with Agnon not to shame the Jewish State by creating complications, but Agnon refused to compromise his observance of Shabbat. He informed the king of Sweden that he would be arriving late to the ceremony.
He ensured to book a ground floor room in the Grand Hotel in Stockholm where he stayed, as he could not use the elevator. As soon as Shabbat ended on that December day, at 3:55 pm, S.Y. Agnon recited Arvit, followed by Havdalah. As it was Hanukah, he lit Hanukah candles. He quickly got dressed into his tuxedo and ran to meet the limousine, which sped to the ceremony accompanied by a motorcade. Agnon shaved in the limousine in order to save time. When he finally arrived at the ceremony and got up onto the stage, everybody in attendance noticed that Agnon wore on his head a black velvet kippah, as opposed to the top hat that the other men wore.
As he received his prize from the Swedish king, Agnon recited the berachah which is recited upon seeing a king: ברוך אתה ה'...שחלק מכבודו לבשר ודם. The king asked him to explain the words he had just recited, and Agnon explained that all kingship originates from G-d, the one, true King over the world. The Talmud teaches that when one sees a king, he recites a blessing praising G-d for sharing His kingship, as it were, with human monarchs. He thus recited this blessing, acknowledging that G-d has shared some of His glory and majesty with the king of Sweden. The king later embraced Agnon.
Agnon did not lose anything by insisting on observing Shabbat, and in the end, he created a remarkable קידוש השם (glorification of Hashem’s Name).
We never lose when we observe Shabbat. Even when it appears as though we must make a difficult sacrifice for the sake of Shabbat, in the end we always gain.