This sheet on Leviticus 23 was written by Aliza Libman Baronofsky for 929 and can also be found here
In this chapter, God tells Moses to tell the children of Israel (v. 2): "Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: These are My fixed times, the fixed times of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as sacred occasions." Then, in verse 3, He commands them about the Shabbat, calling it a "mikra kodesh," a sacred occasion – but not using the term "mo'ed," or “fixed time.”
Verse 4 opens with “these are the set times of God…”, an opening line that suggests Shabbat was not included in this category. As a result, many commentators wondered what Shabbat was doing in this context. After all, there are new details here about some of the holidays not included in the texts where they were mentioned in the book of Exodus. Shabbat, on the other hand, has been explained in detail in other locations. If Shabbat was a mo’ed, its inclusion on this list would make sense. If it is not, why should it appear directly before?
Commentators like Rashi, Ramban and Kli Yakar have interesting, if narrow, legal approaches. The juxtaposition of Shabbat and the mo’adim allows us to ask ritual legal questions such as whether the observance of holidays takes precedence over the observance of Shabbat (it does not) or whether proclaiming the leap year can take precedence over Shabbat (likewise).
We can also think about the grander structural contrast between Shabbat and the other mo’adim. Shabbat occurs once every 7 days without our intervention, but in Biblical times the communal leadership declared Rosh Chodesh, which determined the dates of the holidays. Where Shabbat is routine, the mo’adim are out of the ordinary. Some people feel most inspired by unique, special experiences – the novelty of searching for Chametz, or eating cheesecake when you might otherwise be going about your business on a random Monday.
However, Judaism requires observance both through the routine, weekly Shabbat observance and the out-of-the-ordinary holiday experiences. Our relationship with God cannot be sustained from Sukkot to Pesach solely on the memory of a fantastic Simchat Torah. The routine Shabbat experience keeps the relationship strong, even if it is a less "exciting" experience.
Mo’ed is translated as “set time” but it has as its root word the Hebrew root Ayin Daled, which means witness. Many of these mo’adim bear witness to God’s wonders, which Ramban discusses explicitly in Deuteronomy (see his comments on 6:1). Shabbat and the mo’adim are two different kinds of observances that allow us to bear witness to God’s many actions and wonders that are the cornerstone of our faith.
Verse 4 opens with “these are the set times of God…”, an opening line that suggests Shabbat was not included in this category. As a result, many commentators wondered what Shabbat was doing in this context. After all, there are new details here about some of the holidays not included in the texts where they were mentioned in the book of Exodus. Shabbat, on the other hand, has been explained in detail in other locations. If Shabbat was a mo’ed, its inclusion on this list would make sense. If it is not, why should it appear directly before?
Commentators like Rashi, Ramban and Kli Yakar have interesting, if narrow, legal approaches. The juxtaposition of Shabbat and the mo’adim allows us to ask ritual legal questions such as whether the observance of holidays takes precedence over the observance of Shabbat (it does not) or whether proclaiming the leap year can take precedence over Shabbat (likewise).
We can also think about the grander structural contrast between Shabbat and the other mo’adim. Shabbat occurs once every 7 days without our intervention, but in Biblical times the communal leadership declared Rosh Chodesh, which determined the dates of the holidays. Where Shabbat is routine, the mo’adim are out of the ordinary. Some people feel most inspired by unique, special experiences – the novelty of searching for Chametz, or eating cheesecake when you might otherwise be going about your business on a random Monday.
However, Judaism requires observance both through the routine, weekly Shabbat observance and the out-of-the-ordinary holiday experiences. Our relationship with God cannot be sustained from Sukkot to Pesach solely on the memory of a fantastic Simchat Torah. The routine Shabbat experience keeps the relationship strong, even if it is a less "exciting" experience.
Mo’ed is translated as “set time” but it has as its root word the Hebrew root Ayin Daled, which means witness. Many of these mo’adim bear witness to God’s wonders, which Ramban discusses explicitly in Deuteronomy (see his comments on 6:1). Shabbat and the mo’adim are two different kinds of observances that allow us to bear witness to God’s many actions and wonders that are the cornerstone of our faith.
(ב) דַּבֵּ֞ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם מוֹעֲדֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁר־תִּקְרְא֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם מִקְרָאֵ֣י קֹ֑דֶשׁ אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם מוֹעֲדָֽי׃
(2) Speak to the Israelite people and say to them: These are My fixed times, the fixed times of the LORD, which you shall proclaim as sacred occasions.
Aliza Libman Baronofsky is a student in the Advanced Kollel at Yeshivat Maharat and teaches at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, in Rockville, MD.
929 is the number of chapters in the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible, the formative text of the Jewish heritage. It is also the name of a cutting-edge project dedicated to creating a global Jewish conversation anchored in the Hebrew Bible. 929 English invites Jews everywhere to read and study Tanakh, one chapter a day, Sunday through Thursday together with a website with creative readings and pluralistic interpretations, including audio and video, by a wide range of writers, artists, rabbis, educators, scholars, students and more. As an outgrowth of the web-based platform, 929 English also offers classes, pop-up lectures, events and across North America. We invite you to learn along with us and be part of our dynamic community.
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
To join 929's listserv for new and dynamic content each week click here
