Sorry we missed a day.  I am still in New York and hope, G-d willing, to be back next week.  I appreciate everyone’s good wishes and hope we will share many happy occasions.

Here’s a thought for the day and for the weekend.

The Creation story ends with the Shabbat.

We say it in the Friday night Kiddush over a cup of wine.

That G-d created the world in six days.  And “rested” on the seventh. 

So we do the same and rest on Shabbat.

… But there’s a problem.  One verse seems strange.

“On the seventh day G-d completed His work.”

The seventh day?

Sounds like a typo!

When did G-d finish the world?  On the sixth day?

On the seventh day He didn’t do anything.  He just rested?

… It’s a very powerful message.   A very relevant message.

The world was finished on the sixth day.

But it wasn’t complete.

Because G-d knew that our lives would be very hectic.

And that we might get so busy that we wouldn’t have time for Him.

Time to step back.  To think about life.  And to connect to G-d.

And there wouldn’t be much of a point to that kind of world.

So G-d do took care of it on the seventh day.

He created Shabbat.

And put the finishing touch on the world!

A friend of mine went to a bank for a business loan.  And wasn’t happy with the terms.

He asked to speak to the bank president.  

They met and had a nice schmooze.  About business.  And about life.

And they made up to be in touch.

The president called him on Friday afternoon to discuss the terms.

My friend said, “Thanks.  But it’s almost Shabbat. 

The loan is the furthest thing from my mind!  I’ll call you on Monday!”

I always think about the bank president’s response.  It makes my Shabbat more special.

He said, “You know something?

I envy you.  You have Shabbat!”