While we learn about Shabbat in the book of Genesis, when God creates the world in six days and rests on the seventh, we continually learn about Shabbat’s sacredness throughout the entire Torah.

During the last two parshiyot, Shabbat and the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary in the wilderness, are juxtaposed to each other. Yet, their orders are reversed.

Last week, when we read about the golden calf, the Mishkan is mentioned followed by the observance of Shabbat. This week, we read about the building of the Mishkan and only then learn that we should work six days and rest on the seventh day.

The opposite order begs the question, what is the role of Shabbat?

While we often consider rest as a result of being tired from the previous six days, here we learn that Shabbat is a point of rest to allow us to gear up for the week ahead.

In reality, Shabbat is both.

It is a moment to recognize the work that our human hands have toiled with for the last six days, but Shabbat is also a moment where we cease from labor.

The commentaries teach that while we may think building the Mishkan, as it is a heavenly building, is allowed to supersede Shabbat, the answer is in fact the opposite. Even the most sacred structure is not to be built to acknowledge that our relationship with the Divine is of primary importance.

This week, like we do each week, let Shabbat enable us to look backwards and forwards, and center our lives in sacred relationship.