Rabbi Shmuel Salanter would often be bombarded with questions of Jewish law and other matters concerning personal problems. His family became frustrated and told him that he must set aside special hours for receiving the public in order that he would have time for himself to rest.
Rabbi Salanter’s answer: “I cannot agree to this. Does God limit Godself to having special hours when God can be reached?”
As we approach the High Holy Days, the Torah tells us vhalachta bidrachav, we should walk in God’s ways. The way of God is to behave with kindness and compassion. The Rabbis teach that doing a favor for another human being based on “Love your neighbor” does not sufficiently fulfill this mitzvah. Rather, emulating God requires that it become part of our very nature.
We all need rest. At the end of the week, we are tired and we are weary. We are emotionally spent and need to spiritually recharge. Resting on Shabbat is also the emulation of God. Each Shabbat we read that to celebrate Shabbat one must have oneg, joy. Emulating God comes in many different ways. This Shabbat, in a world that seems upside down, find a moment of oneg, a moment of sacred emulation of the Divine.
