Zachor Veshamor - Two dimensions that will become one
Parshas Yisro 5777
Rabbi Yonason Johnson

Each Friday night in Lecha Dodi we say Shamor Vezachor Bedibbur Echod, “guard and remember were said in one word”. This phrase refers to the Mitzvah of Shabbos which was given at Har Sinai as one of the Aseres Hadibros. 

The Aseres Hadibros are recorded twice in the Torah, with some minor variations.

In Parshas Yisro the fourth Commandment begins זכור את יום השבת לקדשו, “remember the Shabbos day to make it holy”. In Vaeschanan the same Commandment begins שמור את יום השבת לקדשו, “guard the Shabbos and make it holy”.

Our sages teach that the words זכור and שמור were said simultaneously, emphasising two different aspects of Shabbos. Since two words cannot be written simultaneously, each of the two times the Aseres Hadibros is written in the Torah features a different word. 

What are these two dimensions and what does it mean that they were said as one?  

Chassidus describes the relationship between Hashem and the world as one of Mashpia and Mekabel, giver and receiver. In this context, Hashem as the Mashpia gives flows of Divine energy from Above to below, to a world which has a lesser revelation of G-dly light. The world as the Mekabel elevates itself from below to arouse the flow of energy from the Mashpia.

Through the Avodah of refining and elevating the world during the six days of the week (Birurim), we arouse the flow of Oneg - Hashem’s delight which is drawn down on Shabbos day. 

The classic example of Mashpia and Mekabel is the relationship between husband and wife, between male and female.
Zachor, which is related to the word Zachar (male) represents the masculine energy. This is a flow from the Mashpia, the G-dly light which shines from Above into the world on Shabbos.

Shamor, like the mother’s womb guards the foetus, embodies the feminine energy of the Mekabel. This refers to the elevation of the Mekabel through the Avodah of refining the world during the week which becomes elevated on Shabbos.

These two aspects of Shabbos manifest at different times. The elevation (Mekabel/Shamor) as the result of our Avodah during the week takes place on Friday night and we transition from the weekday into Shabbos. The revelation of Hashem’s delight (Mashpia/Zachor) is manifest on Shabbos day.  

In this sense, Shamor and Zachor are two separate phases and separate words, emphasising the  distinction between Mashpia and Mekabel as being higher and lower.

But this distinction is only in relation to the Divine light and its relationship with the worlds. The Mashpia, the abundant flow of Divine light is greater and higher than the Mekabel which needs to elevate herself to receive it.    

However, in the Messianic age, there will be a revelation of Hashem’s essence, which transcends all levels. In relation to Hashem’s essence the most lofty spiritual light is like nought, no different to the world where the revelation of light is minimal. In the presence of Hashem’s essence, the distinction between masculine and feminine energies, between Mashpia and Mekabel falls away and both are equalised.

This is the inner reason why our sages describe the time of Moshiach as the Yom Shekulo Shabbos, a day which is entirely Shabbos and a Yom Shekulo Aroch - a day which is all long. It is because there will no longer be different phases within Shabbos but rather one long Shabbos.

At Matan Torah when the Aseres Hadibros were given, there was a revelation of Hashem’s essence akin to the revelation in the time of Moshiach. And so Shamor and Zachor were said as one word. In our Lecha Dodi we daven that we should merit this experience, the day which is all Shabbos, with the immediate coming of Moshiach Bimheira Beyameinu Amen.