October 7th and Shabbat 250

President Trump has declared that this coming Shabbat:

Jewish Americans are encouraged to observe a national Sabbath. From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great Nation. This day will recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to the Almighty.

This has created a lot of buzz.  South African Chief Rabbi Warren Goldstein's Shabbos Project even created a website for it.  It truly is remarkable that the President would make such a proclamation.  Rabbi Glatstein notes (3:12 - 4:40) that in the past, other world leaders have prevented us from keeping Shabbat, but President Trump is encouraging us to keep Shabbat.

Looking back to the terrible day of October 7th, the Shabbat of Shemini Atzeret (and Simhat Torah in Israel), Shabbat played a significant role.  First of all, for better or for worse, that day was known in Israel as "שבת שחורה" - Black Shabbat.  Also, soldiers from all over the country were forced to desecrate Shabbat in order to help defend the nation.

But more importantly, there were Shabbat miracles.  Kibbutz Saad, whose residents are Shomrei Shabbat, was miraculously spared from Hamas terrorists because their gate was closed for Shabbat.  That is not to say that every Shomer Shabbat in Israel was spared on that day.  That is clearly not the case.  But the fact that Hashem decided to spare one or two towns due to their keeping Shabbat is definitely a sign from Hashem.  

Furthermore, after that day, many people people whose religiosity was previously on the fence starting keeping Shabbat - including hostages themselves.  It seems clear to me that Shabbat was interlinked with that day on a spiritual level and that was revealed to those who have the eyes to see it.

During the Yamim Nora'im, mainly Ashkenazim say the ונתנה תוקף prayer, which famously says:

 ותשובה ותפילה וצדקה מעבירין את רוע הגזירה 

"and repentance and prayer and charity removes the evil decree"

The prayer books give these 3 concepts alternate names: קול צום ממון.  Prayer is also known by קול (sound).  Repentance is also known by צום (fasting).  Charity is also known by ממון (money).  The Gezeira may be bad, but קול צום ממון is to be its antidote - whether it's preventatively or curatively.  Interestingly, each of these 3 words (קול צום ממון) have the same gematria of 136.

So now we have President Trump calling on Jews to observe Shabbat on Shabbat Parashat Bamidbar - aka Shabbat Kallah.  Remarkably, this Shabbat is exactly 136 weeks - or 136 Shabbatot - from the Shabbat of October 7th.  The past 136 weeks, we have ב"ה seen a resurgence in prayer, repentance, and charity.   But it's not enough if Shabbat is not observed properly as we didn't get to the source of the problem.  Perhaps we can say that קול צום ממון is only a complete antidote when it cures the source of the problem, but when it doesn't, additional help is needed.  And that's where the gematria of קול צום ממון comes in.  The October 7th Gezeira occurred, but we can rectify its cause this coming Shabbat - 136 weeks later - by way of President Trump's Gezeira to observe Shabbat to its fullest extent.  

One should not think that improving our Shabbat observance is only for the irreligious.  Rather, everyone can improve the way one keeps Shabbat in some way or another.  The President's charge is really for every Jew.

We know from the Bavli that if the Jewish people would keep 2 Shabbatot according to its halachot, we would immediately be redeemed.  The Yerushalmi says that it will happen with even 1 Shabbat being kept properly.  Let's make it happen!