Faith
Why do we need to keep Shabbat? What are we actually here for?
Question
Why do we need to keep Shabbat? What are we actually here for? Um, there is no content
Answer
With Hashem's help
Hello and blessings,
Shabbat is a remembrance of the creation of the world - the day on which Hashem finished the Creation and rested from His work. In this way, we connect to the act of creation and merit to receive from the spiritual abundance of Creation. One who merits to keep Shabbat merits a blessing that extends over all the days of the week.
Shabbat is a spiritual day of release from the chains of material life and preoccupation with the material. It is not just a day for outings, but rather "You shall keep the day of Shabbat holy" - through family Shabbat meals, words of Torah, and uplifting prayers, the soul merits to connect with its Maker.
Hashem created human beings in order to benefit them, and so that they would be like Him and close to Him in the World to Come. Thus it is stated in the Torah: "And Hashem created man in His image; in the image of Hashem He created him" (Genesis 1:27). Man is the crown of creation. In this sense, we are similar to the sons and daughters of Hashem: "For you are children to Hashem your God."
The greatest benefit there is spiritual elevation, the strength attained through trials and the struggle with the evil inclination in this world, similar to an athlete who earns a medal only after winning a difficult competition. Thus the trials and choices in this world are meant to elevate us and bring us to a high spiritual level, where we will be like the Creator of the world because of our choices and our deeds.
The purpose of life is to fulfill the will of the Creator of the world, by refining our character traits and overcoming our desires. In this way we will enlarge our soul more and more, and bring it closer to the source of its Creator. In the World to Come, the soul will be close to Hashem in Gan Eden according to the holiness and level of our deeds in this world. The Torah is the manufacturer's instruction manual, guiding us how to achieve this great benefit and how to fulfill the will of the Creator of the world.
With blessings,
Daniel Bels
