Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/58

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The Book of Genesis

40

man

dained that

work.

should be colaborer with

He has man finds

Thereby

exalted

man above

Him all

in the world's

other creatures.

his chief pleasure, and life comes to seem sweet and beautiful and worth living. The life of that person who finds no real work to do, must seem indeed dull and sad, useless and misspent. In other words, Judaism teaches that man's work is one of the good things, in fact, the crowning blessing of life, ordained

In this labor

have value, and

to

by God.

Yet

labor and

toil, day in and day out, must take the and make existence dreary and cheerless. God has created man to be the lord of the universe, and not its slave or drudge. For just this reason God has instituted the Sabbath, and has bidden man rest on this day from labor and toil, that he may rejoice in the consideration of the goodness and the beauty of the universe and of life, and in the knowledge of the dignity and the opportunity of his exalted position, and that he may thank God reverently and joyfully for all His bounty and, love. It is the precious Sabbath which enables men to rightly appreciate and enjoy the sacred privilege of life. And, as our prayer-book says, so nobly and so truly, "He alone, who has labored well dur-

zest

all

out of

life,

ing the week, and, according to his strength, has contributed

work of humanity, will enjoy the sweetness To him who, obedient to Thy law, has performed what was given him to do, the Sabbath is a fountain

to

the greater

of the Sabbath.

Therefore God has instituted all mankind, and has made it the sign of His everlasting covenant with Israel (Exodus XXXI, 16f.). And through His pro])hct He has spoken unto Israel of joy, of hope and strength". the Sabbath

If

for Israel and for

thou turn away thy foot because of the Sabbath,

From pursuing thy business on My holy day And call the Sabbath a delight. And the holy of the Lord honorable