Beth Shalom
Oceanside Jewish Center

America lost one of its great institutions this past week. It consisted of a man who, for over thirty years, appeared on television each day and welcomed our children into his self-made neighborhood. His name was Mr. Rogers.

For the past three generations, children between the ages of three and six have grown up visiting Mr. Rogers' neighborhood on Public Television. Each day, this gentle and quiet man would go through the ritual of changing his wing tipped shoes for a pair of sneakers and his sports coat for a cardigan that was made by his mother. There was a special way you dressed in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood. Clothing helped to create a unique atmosphere.

And then Mr. Rogers would gently talk to our children about the issues and things that concerned them. He'd welcome them into the land of make believe, sing songs with them, and he'd always make time to feed his fish; all the things most of us have no time to do. And of course, at some point during the show he would tell our children that he liked them "just the way they are," as his grandfather had done for him. Mr. Rogers had a special way of comforting us, reassuring us, and most of all quietly listening to us. For me he epitomized the spirit of Shabbat.

But we adults often thought Mr. Rogers' Nieghborhood was the most boring show on television. He was so easy to parody and it was easy to laugh at him. With so many exciting shows to watch, not to mention cartoons filled with gratuitous violence, we couldn't figure out why our children loved Mr. Rogers so much.

In retrospect it's easy to understand. Without hoopla, gimmicks, or special effects Fred Rogers managed to create a safe place for our children and to address the real issues affecting their lives. He taught them not only through words but through deeds as well.

At a time when we're more likely to be treated to a pie in the face, an insult or a put down, fireworks, and outrageous humor on television, Mr. Rogers taught us the importance of listening, reflecting, and treating each other with respect. Though he never used the "G" word on his program (Did you know that he was a Presbyterian Minister), I believe his message was basically a religious one. He asked us to see the goodness in one another and to take the time to appreciate the small blessings in everyday life. He reassured us and tried to comfort us in the face of lives uncertainties and fears. He treated everyone with respect.

So what does all this have to do with Shabbat? It seems to me that visiting Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood is really not so different from celebrating the Sabbath. Both were meant to nurture basic human values and ideals. In an age when we crave constant stimulation and excitement, when our leisure time has to be filled up with activities, and when we're unhappy if we're not riding on a roller coaster, Mr. Rogers tried to teach his young viewers that there is something to be said for real "quiet time," for an opportunity to talk, to imagine, to share, and to think.

And that, it seems to me, is what the Sabbath is all about. It's about leaving all the excitement and stimulation of the world behind each week and coming home to a place where everyone is a neighbor, and in which each person is valued for himself or herself.

Shabbat is not necessarily exciting, but it's a good place, and it's a place which we need to visit more often. In an age when we crave a constant rush, when seem to think that each day has to offer a new experience, the Sabbath reminds us that we need to stop long enough to appreciate what we already have: the people around us, the small daily blessings in our lives, and the opportunities we've been given to find our own inner resources. Shabbat forces us to turn off the television, to forget about the mall, to quiet our voices and to use our own inner resources to find pleasure in life. It's an opportunity to use our imagination, to sing, to read, to carry on a good conversation, and maybe even explore the world of our own immediate neighborhood, things we don't do nearly enough.

Most of us think of a vacation as an opportunity for new stimulation - a trip to Disney or a week on a cruise. We've forgotten how to be quiet or simply to stand still. That's exactly what Mr. Rogers did for a half an hour each day. From the comfort of his own home, he discovered all types of opportunities to learn, to grow, to explore the inner landscape of our souls. Shabbat is about making time for Re-Creation instead of just recreation.

Our Torah portion this Shabbat opens with the law of the Shabbat. Gathering the people together, Moshe says, "On six days work may be done; but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord…" and then he reminds the people, "You shall kindle no fire throughout your settlements in the Sabbath Day."

Commenting on this verse, the sages explain that it's speaking about more than just a flame. Kindling a fire is another _expression for fermenting anger and argument in our homes. And when we think someone is exciting, or sexy we say they are "hot." Shabbat is supposed to be a quiet time, a time when we avoid conflict and discord. It's a time for cooling down. We avoid kindling the flame of contention in our homes. Of course there is room on Shabbat for love: intimate relations are a special Mitzvah. The atmosphere of the Sabbath, however, is supposed to be nurturing and reassuring. Things slow down and we begin to smell the roses. It is a day for healing, when we come together as a community.

The opening word of today's Parshah is "Vayakhel" "You shall gather the entire community. Moses is commanded to gather the people together to teach them the laws of Shabbat because the Sabbath is about creating a community. Better yet, it's an opportunity to create a neighborhood where each of us can be welcomed as a neighbor. We walk into synagogue. We greet one another with a hand shake or a kiss. Passing a stranger on the street, we see that they're dressed for shul. We say, "Gut Shabbas." We don't wear sneakers and a cardigan, but it's easy to recognize someone who is observing the Sabbath. They look different.

It sounds a little like Mr. Rogers' neighborhood doesn't it? Things slow down. We take the time to talk to one another, but we still feed the fish. (Actually, we eat the fish!) The past week has been hectic as we tried to wring profit out of the world and to shape our universe to our desire. We need a quiet place to heal, to renew ourselves, and to enjoy each other's company. That is what Mr. Rogers was all about. And that's what we try to accomplish on Shabbat as well.

Rabbi Louis Jacobs writes, "The Sabbath ideal of rest is not purely passive, a mere stoppage of labor. A special atmosphere of difference from other days is cultivated by refraining from weekday pursuits as well as by wearing of special Shabbat clothes, lighting candles the best table clothe, the cup of wine." In other words we create a special space, a sacred space where we can settle back and enjoy the present moment. Instead of looking outward to stimulate us, we remove all the obstacles that allow us to hear our own voice, and the voice of others.

On Friday afternoons as we dress for Shabbat, as we set the table and prepare the food for our Sabbath meal, I can't help but feel that Marilyn and I are creating a special neighborhood, a warm and welcoming place, in which we will dwell for the next twenty four hours. It is not quite Mr. Rogers' neighbor but it's uniquely Jewish and it serves the same purpose. I only wish more of my congregants took the time to visit this special Shabbat neighborhood and could find what I have found there.

In these hectic and frightful times, more than ever, we need quiet time. We need to allow ourselves the chance to hear the blessings of the world that are all around us.

And that's what Shabbat is all about.

Shabbat Shalom

(Note: The New York Times featured an article in their Sunday Magazine that was titled "Bring Back the Sabbath" that should be read that addresses many of the issues addressed above.)