About Sabbath Rest -- Parashat Acharei (To the Jewish Journal)

"It shall be a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever." (Leviticus 16: 3)1

In this fascinating verse, "Sabbath of rest" is actually "shabbat shabbatown", or "The most restful of rests". In other words, God says: "Chill out! And I mean it!"

This reminds me of Moses’ command to the Israelites’ fleeing from Egypt:

“Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever.” (Exodus 14: 13)

As for the double meaning embedded in "v'initem", "afflict" means "humble yourselves", that we may receive more of God's grace and goodness in our lives.

 As Isaiah writes, God does not want us to bow our heads in sackcloth and ashes, but rather to fast from our self-centered, unsatisfied living and rest in His provision.

 If we rest in Him, God promises that our light and healing will break forth like the morning, and the world will see our righteousness, and He will be right behind us. (Isaiah 58:8)

We rest and He works: What’s not to like?