Much has been said about the differences between the wording in both versions of the Ten Commandments — this one and the one that is recorded in Exodus 20. I would like to focus on one difference and an ancient traditional interpretation that guides so much of what we do to this day.

The commandment regarding the Sabbath, Shabbat, begins in Exodus 20:8 with the words: “Remember the Sabbath Day.” In Deuteronomy, the verse reads: “Keep the Sabbath Day.” The Midrash states that both of these first words, Keep and Remember, were actually uttered by G-d simultaneously, but the human ear is incapable of hearing this. Therefore, as Moses repeats the Ten Commandments he says each word separately, once in Exodus and once in Deuteronomy.

Our sages carried this idea further and explained the inherent difference between these two words. Remember is a positive word and in fact, refers to all those acts that we do on the Sabbath day to remind us of the meaning of the day. Foremost among these is the Kiddush ceremony. Friday night and Saturday noon, we say a special blessing on a cup of wine before beginning the festive meal. The actual blessing is preceded by reciting Scripture. In the evening, we recite Genesis 2:1-3. The following day, we recite the verses regarding the Sabbath from the Ten Commandments in Exodus. Through the Kiddush, we sanctify the day and remind ourselves of its significance.

Another set of customs that are derived from this special commandment to remember is the idea of “onegShabbat”, literally, the pleasure of Shabbat. Oneg Shabbat encompasses the family meals that we share together, complete with singing, laughter and telling of stories. As a teenager growing up in the US, I well remember the Friday evening gatherings through our youth group that we referred to Oneg Shabbat. We met in someone’s home and spent hours singing songs from Scripture, listening to a teaching from the weekly Torah portion, and enjoying the cake and munchies that our hosts put out for us It was truly a pleasurable way to spend the Shabbat! 

The word “observe” and particularly the Hebrew “shamor” implies a negative — preserve the day, watch it so that it not be desecrated. It is this word that reminds us of the commandments to refrain from work (Deuteronomy 5:14), to refrain from cooking (Exodus 35:3) and so many other commandments.

But the fact that these words were said together, that both messages were communicated by G-d to His people in the Ten Commandments indicates that both are key to observance of the Shabbat. On the one hand, we refrain from doing so many of our normal everyday activities. If this were all that Shabbat was about, it would end up begin a day of restrictions, of “don’ts” and “better nots”. But it is a day of remembrance of G-d as the creator, and of the special day He has given to us to celebrate. By the same token, just remembering is not enough either. Without setting ourselves apart from our business concerns, we cannot possibly create the atmosphere necessary for the remembrance.

Shabbat Shalom From Samaria,

Sondra Baras
Director, Israel Office
CFOIC Heartland