As the Jews began the final stretch of their journey towards Israel, they met resistance from the nations that stood between them and the land. At each juncture, Moshe sent messengers to the leaders of the nation for permission to pass through in a peaceful manner. He even gave them an economic incentive, telling them that the Jews would purchase goods from them while they traveled through their country. Even so, the nations of Edom, Amelek, Sichon, Og, Amon and Moav, would not let the Jews in, and in their hatred they waged war or tried to cast a spell on the Jews.
To understand how deep is the hatred of the wicked nation of Amalek towards the Jewish people, the Torah relates that the Cananites heard the Jews were approaching, and they waged war against them. They viewed this as an opportune time to attack the Jews since the spiritual protective clouds which accompanied the Jews in the desert had just recently disappeared with Aaron’s death.
Our sages tell us that these Cananites were really Amalekites. Amalek knew that the power of the Jews lies in their prayers, so they slyly changed their language to that of the Cananites, hoping the Jews would think they were Cananites and pray to G-d for victory over the Cananites. They assumed that the Jews’ prayers would go unanswered for they were not in fact fighting with the Cananites rather with Amalek.
The Jews were perplexed since on the one hand the nation that they were up against spoke like Cananites, however, their clothing was that of the Amalekites.
The Jews therefore prayed generally for G-d’s assistance without specifying the name of the nation whom they were fighting against. Their prayers were answered and the Jews were victorious.
Rabbi Yitzchok of Vorka asks, why didn’t the Amalekites change their clothing to that of the Cannanites as well, then the Jews would have certainly prayed to G-d to save them from the Cannanites, and then their prayers wouldn’t have been listened to?
He explains that had the Amalekites changed their clothing as well as their language to the Cannanites, they would have been deemed as Cannanites and G-d would have listened to the Jews’ prayers. This is because when one changes both their language and their clothing they actually assume the identity of that nation.
I would like to borrow this concept and apply it to something that we just studied in the Talmud in the Daf Yomi cycle.
Hundreds of thousands of Jews are studying daily in unison a page of the Talmud in tractate Shabbos.
The Talmud expounds on a verse in Isaiah, “If you proclaim the Shabbos, ‘a delight’ the holy one of G-d…and you honor it.”
The Talmud asks, what does the word V’chibadito – and you honor it, imply? The Talmud answers it refers to one’s dress code on Shabbos. One should have special clothes for Shabbos, different than the rest of the week. This brings honor to the holy day and also reminds the wearer that it is a day to act differently – in a more sanctified manner by not doing that which is forbidden.
The Talmud quotes Rebbe Yochanan who would call his clothing – “that which brings me honor.”
When one dresses up they feel differently and act in a respectful and dignified manner.
The Talmud continues to expound on the aforementioned verse which also mentions that one should be careful about his speech on Shabbos. This means we are not to discuss business matters on Shabbos or plan for things we will do in the coming week.
Our manner of speech on Shabbos is different from the rest of the week.
If we stop to reflect on what Rabbi Yitzchok of Vorka said; when one changes their language and clothing their identity conforms to those changes, we can perhaps apply this to one’s approach to Shabbos as well.
When one dresses to honor the Shabbos and conducts their manner of speech in reverence of the holy day of Shabbos – what essentially occurs is they assume an identity that is in accordance with the precepts of our cherished day of Shabbos. This inspiring feeling advances, expands and continually uplifts and inspires us!
