The Fourth Commandment: Remember the Sabbath Day

By FRANCINE KLAGSBRUN

Introduction

Uncle Zalman and the Sabbath Rest

In the small Russian village where my father's family had its roots, my great-uncle Zalman became known as a ne'er-do-well, a schlemiel. My father's uncle—his father's younger brother—Zalman could quote Jewish law and legend. He could recount the exploits of a biblical hero, explain a simple passage in the Talmud, and pray with more fervor than most. What he could not do was earn a living. Urged by his family to find an occupation after he married, he decided to use his dowry money of 300 rubles to become a fur merchant, traveling about local villages to buy and sell animal skins. The time to do this was in the winter, the height of the animal trapping season. But, here, as my father would tell it, is what happened.

On Sunday morning Zalman began planning his route for visiting the trappers. Because the Sabbath had so recently ended, however, he felt the spirit of the day still upon him. It would be best, he decided, to postpone his journey until the next day when he could get a fresh start for the week. On Monday morning he awoke early and went to prayer services before setting out. He happened to live near the local heder, the Jewish schoolhouse, so he stopped off to say good-bye to the teacher, his friend. The teacher had him wait until the lessons came to a close, and soon it was lunch time. After lunch, the two fell into animated conversation about the portion of the Torah read in shul on the previous Sabbath. By the time they finished their discussion, the short winter day had turned dark. It was too late, Zalman decided, to begin his journey. The same routine occurred the next day, except that this time the conversation revolved around the Torah portion to be read on the following Sabbath. By mid-week, Zalman was finally ready to take leave of the teacher, but now his mind turned to the approaching Sabbath. This was Wednesday. By Friday, the Sabbath eve, he would need to be home. What could he accomplish in two days? And wasn't he already enwrapped in Sabbath thoughts? Better to prepare himself for that holy day and get a fresh start for work after it ended.

So it went, week after week.

The story of Uncle Zalman and his Sabbath rest has become part of our family lore, always good for a laugh. Zalman well knew the Fourth Commandment that calls for a complete rest from all manner of work on the seventh day of the week. He simply managed to forget the first part of that commandment, which calls for working on the other six days.

Yet Zalman's misplaced Sabbath zeal points to something serious about the Sabbath's true position in Jewish tradition: It forms the center of Jewish life and thought. The Sabbath is not just part of the weekend; it is the essence of the week.

[Continued…]

Excerpted from THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT.
Copyright © 2002 by Francine Klagsbrun.
Published by Harmony Books. Excerpted by permission. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.