Brit and Shabbat
Why, asks the Midrash (D.R. 6:1), doesBrit Milah (The covenant of circumcision) take place specifically on the child’s eighth day? The reason given by the Midrash is that Hashem applied mercy to him (the infant), to wait for his Brit Milah "ad sheyehei bo kocho" – simply translated: until he has his strength. We will revisit this translation a little later.
What strength does an infant gain at eight days? The Zohar (3:91) explains that the reason for the eighth day timing of a Brit is to ensure that the baby has experienced a Shabbat before his Brit Milah. The Zohar says that as a consequence of Shabbat "he is touched by the soul of vitality that is infused into the world on Shabbat." The Zohar echoes another Midrash (B.R. 10:9): "Before Shabbat was introduced the universe wobbled and trembled. Once Shabbat was introduced, the universe was reinforced and it rested." The rest to which the Midrash refers, nach, is like a structure that rests on its foundations, it is the rest and tranquility gained from being centered and grounded, not merely the rest of inactivity. Shabbat infused a new and vital energy into the universe: the energy of reinforcement and rest. The Or Hachayim explains, that it is this energy that the baby accesses before his Brit that gives him strength. The strength that Hashem mercifully wants the baby to have is not the strength from having survived for eight days, but rather the energy that he gained from experiencing the sanctity of Shabbat.
Prior to Shabbat, the universe was weak and restless; it wobbled and trembled. Shabbat brought in a new universal energy capable of rectifying wobbles and reinforcing the foundations of strength. Often by the end of a week of frenetic activity we feel in somewhat of a "wobble," ungrounded and uncentered. Shabbat rectifies that feeling. It provides a sense of spiritual, emotional, mental and physical grounding. With that new grounding we feel reinforced, refocused, energized and ready to face a new week. This is the nature of Shabbat. This is the energy on which Hashem wants the infant to draw before his Brit. As little as he is, the newborn manages the trauma of his Brit with more equanimity if he feels inwardly centered after having experienced his first Shabbat.
Strength through clarity of Purpose
How does the Shabbat bring this energy to the world? Shabbat clarifies the purpose of the world, it reaffirms the fact that the world did not haphazardly evolve but was mindfully and masterfully willed and created by Hashem. As such, every blade of grass, every insect bird and animal, and certainly each human being is created with a part to play in creation, with its own unique purpose.
Brit Milah prepares the child to handle the inevitable struggles of life by first clarifying purpose. It "teaches" him to face challenge only after drawing on the forces of Shabbat, the forces of spiritual and emotional strength and of resting on firm foundations of clarity: the clarity of purpose. When a person gains clarity of purpose (even an infant on a subconscious level), they acquire renewed inner strength and see within themselves the kernels of their own potential to fulfill that purpose.
This leads us to redefine the meaning of "ad sheyehei bo kocho." The word "koach" does not always mean "strength." Sometimes it means "potential." Note that the Midrash does not say "ad sheyehei bo koach" (until he has strength) but "ad sheyehei bo kocho" (until he has his own strength). We all draw on two different types of strength. One is a generic physical or mental strength and stamina. The other is each person’s own strengths, their unique potential, given to them by Hashem to enable the realization of the purpose for which they are created. Hashem waits to have the Brit "ad sheyehei bo kocho", until the child contains within himself his own unique strengths and potential, something he only acquires on Shabbat.
The power of Shabbat to strengthen and provide foundation and purpose is not limited to humans. Shabbat provides a similar sense of purpose and consequent strength to nature too. This explains the continuation of the Midrash: The Midrash (D.R. 6:1) continues to say: "And just as Hashem is merciful towards humans, so he is merciful towards cattle, as it says (Vayikra 22:27) ‘Uvayom hashmini ve’hal’ah, yeiratzeh….’ (And from the eighth day onwards, it (the newborn animal) is fit for sacrifice). That is astonishing: what kindness is it to wait until the animal is strong enough from having experienced Shabbat, before it is slaughtered as a korban(sacrifice)? We understand why a baby needs strength for his Brit; we want him to survive the operation in good health. But why does an animal need to be strong before it is slaughtered?
Indeed, if we understand koach not as ‘strength’ but as ‘potential’, then Hashem does not want an animal to be brought as a korbanuntil it too has been infused with its own sense of purpose; its life-force thus strengthened for the avodah (service) of korban. It is not only we, observers of Shabbat, who benefit from it: all of humanity benefits; animals benefit too. All of nature benefits from our Shabbat observance: the whole universe is stabilized by Shabbat. Shabbat has the power to give strength to infants about to face the trauma ofBrit Milah. Shabbat provides each Jewish person who observes it with the power to face every one of their challenges with equanimity. Treasure Shabbat, observe it and preserve it; it is the generator of your inner strength and your peace even in times of hardship and crisis. A new meaning to the greeting: "Shabbat Shalom."
