1/11/2011

Topics Discussed:
- Temples
- Primeval Bibile History
- Recreation of the "New Jerusalem"
- Consecration of a sacred space
- Jerusaelm as an Axis Mundi
- Jerusalem as the Cosmic Mountain

I learned something back in high school about why the 2 different reasons for why keeping Shabbat is so important to the Jewish people. It says that one reason why we should keep Shabbat is because G-d created the first 6 days, and on the 7th day, He rested and this 7th day of rest was Shabbat. Later on, it says, that the reason why we should keep Shabbat is because we were slaves in Egypt, and G-d freed us. So what do these 2 have to do with each other? We learn that these two reason, explain to us the two different aspects of living. There is a spiritual aspect and a physical aspect.
1. Spiritual. G-d created the world on the first 6 days of creation and on the 7th day, He rested. This is a spiritual rest. Shabbat is a more spiritual day of the week, and there are many laws regarding Shabbat to help us keep this spiritual holiness. It demonstrates our connection and devotion to G-d and reaffirms our source of holiness. Shabbat connects us both to G-d and to the rest of the Jewish people, therefore Shabbat is where we get our spiritual fulfillment and rest.
2. Physical. We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt. We worked hard, just like we work all week. We become slaves to our jobs and to money, that if we didn't have this physical day of rest, we might go insane. The fact that this physical rest is related to the story of the Exodus is a constant reminder that we are free people. We have the right to rest and the right to chose when we do what. It is a day to take time for ourselves and our families, and become rejuvenated for the rest of the week.