Rabbi Howard Morrison

This week's Parsha introduces the seven branched Menorah. It symbolizes the seven days of creation and of the week. However, the large middle branch represents Shabbat. The three to the left are Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday leading up to Shabbat. The three to the right are Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday following Shabbat.

Already as of Wednesday, one may begin to greet Shabbat Shalom since Wednesday is closer to the coming Shabbat than to the preceding one. It is noteworthy that the Psalm for Wednesday morning ends where the first line of Kabbalat Shabbat begins on Friday evening,

One may recite Havdalah into Tuesday morning if one forgot to do so earlier since Tuesday is closer to the preceding Shabbat than to the coming one.

Every morning, the daily Psalm is prefaced by this is such and such a day toward Shabbat.

While Shabbat is the last day of the week, it is the centerpiece of our mindset.

As has been said by the Zionist, Ahad Ha'Am, and others -  More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Howard Morrison