In the Ten Commandments as they appear in the Book of Exodus, we find:

“Remember the Sabbath Day to sanctify it” (Exodus 20:7).

In Deuteronomy, we find a slightly different expression:

“Guard the Sabbath Day...” (Deuteronomy 5:11)

The commandment to “Guard the Shabbat… refers to refraining from performing any melachah;   “Remember the Shabbat...” refers to those commandments which we perform to honor the Shabbat, such as making kiddush and eating three sumptuous meals in honor of the day. Not only should we refrain from desecrating the Shabbat, but we are urged to take positive steps to sanctify it and to enjoy the blessings it makes available to us, to reap its full benefit

The aspect of guarding the Shabbat includes abstaining from the forms of creative melachah (creative acts) which were employed to construct the Tabernacle. These forms of work are not necessarily characterized by the degree of physical effort they call forth. Their common denominator is the new object or condition they produce. When G-d “rested” on the first Shabbat, it was not because of physical effort, but as an act of creating the Shabbat. G-d ceased from His act of Creation so that Man would emulate Him; in doing so, G-d taught us several moral lessons, and allowed us the opportunity to gain the blessings of Shabbat observance. We, too, are commanded to refrain from any form of creative work on the seventh day.

The construction of the Tabernacle was the highest form of creative act which man can achieve. It creates a dwelling place for the Presence of G-d on this earth. On Shabbat, we desist from all thirty-nine types of work which were involved in erecting the Tabernacle. The Shabbat is in time what the Tabernacle was to place. The Tabernacle is the point in space set aside for G-d's Presence to dwell among men; the Shabbat is the point in time when G-d's Presence dwells among the People of Israel. On Shabbat, G-d rested from His melachah of creating the world; we emulate Him by resting from the thirty-nine types of creative work. In doing so, we draw nearer to G-d so that His Presence finds a place to dwell in our midst. This is the meaning of “Guard the day of Shabbat…”

“Remembering Shabbat” refers to positive acts rather than our refraining from restricted actions. For instance, we take more care with setting the table, we partake of special foods and drinks, and we don fine garments. In general, we try to do any permitted act which will make the day especially enjoyable. Judaism teaches us not to repress our physicality. Likewise, we need not abstain from physical pleasures. G-d created them so that they would facilitate our efforts to serve Him. Therefore, it is fitting that we use them to serve G-d by keeping His commandments; they are a means of reaching greater spiritual heights. Just as the horse draws a cart toward its destination, the physical world can draw us nearer to G-dliness.

This principle finds expression in our observance of Shabbat when we combine the two aspects of Shabbat, “Remember the Shabbat…” and “Guard the Shabbat…” On Shabbat we combine the physical and spiritual worlds. The Jew eats well, relaxes, rests, and rejoices with song and Torah study. He has time to enjoy the company of his family and friends. He elevates himself to the world of spirituality. By ceasing to perform all types of melachah, we turn all our resources to the additional Shabbat soul which Heaven sends us each week from above.

At first glance, the stipulation of Jewish Law that we recite kiddush each Shabbat over a cup of wine seems to be a contradiction. However, this is the power of Torah; it teaches us how to gain sanctity through a cup of wine. The wine does not bring intoxication and the unseemly behavior associated with alcohol. Rather, it gives the body pleasure so as to include it in our experience of the sanctity of Shabbat.

Let us imagine that the king wishes to celebrate the anniversary of his coronation day. He honors selected nobles with an invitation to join him at a festive banquet. The guests partake of delicacies and sip delicious wines at the feast. They are all dressed elegantly in honor of the king. They speak his praises and thank him for the honor and pleasure of being allowed to share in his celebration.

On Shabbat, we are the nobles invited to the table of the King of Kings. We don our finest garments in honor of our King; we partake of the special dishes prepared for the occasion, and express our appreciation of the blessings He bestows on us, and the honor of being invited to His table.

When we learn to observe it fully, the sweet taste of Shabbat will remain with us all week.