Chapter 19 - The Elements of Chassidut/Piety Page 372-374

Respect for Shabbat and Torah

The audio excerpts from Rabbi Moshe Haber's discussion, "Path of the Just," focus on the importance of demonstrating respect and honor for Shabbat and Torah as a means of fully engaging with these religious concepts. The rabbi suggests that honoring Shabbat involves preparation throughout the week and holding back from certain pleasures to make the Sabbath meal and day stand out as special. Furthermore, the discussion transitions to the concept of honoring the Torah, or "Torah", and the rabbis, arguing that showing respect to Torah scholars is intrinsically rewarded and even merited King Ahab a long reign despite his wickedness. The text provides specific examples of how to show respect for the Torah, such as how it is carried during travel, and concludes by asserting that holding rabbis and the Torah on a "pedestal" is crucial for the faithful to fully accept and be impacted by their teachings.