Parshat Behar: The Special Beauty of Shabbos

If the Torah is of divine authorship, why does it repeat itself so much? Did G-d forget what He had already written when He chose to repeat an idea? And not just any idea, but an entire verse – word for word? Compare 26:2 to 19:30 and you'll find the exact same words: "Observe my Sabbath and revere my temple, I am G-d."

The phrase "Observe my Sabbath" appears one more time in the book of Vayikra, when it is connected to the commandment of revering one's parents. (Vayikra 19:3)

What is the connection?

When one examines the last few verses of our parsha, one sees a very clear reference to the first four utterings of the Decalogue: the Israelites are my avadim (servants or subjects) because I took them out of Egypt; you are not to make idols, monuments or stones for worship purposes; do not bow down to them; observe My Sabbath and revere My Temple.

The commandment to honor one's parents (as it appears in Shmot 20), or to revere them (as it appears in Vayikra19:3) is conspicuously absent here – it seems to be replaced by the commandment to revere the Temple. What gives?

Rashi famously asks at the beginning of the parsha "What is the reason for discussing the laws of shmittah at Sinai?" The answer to this question is the subject of much homiletical discourse.

But perhaps the parsha ends with a reference to the Ten Commandments to emphasize the importance and significance of the relationship between man and G-d in our lives, and how it even exists when we are discussing the laws of the shmittah and of charity and of the Jewish eved.

Why is the relationship to parents, then, left out of the discussion?

There are three ways we are instructed to relate to G-d: To love G-d (Devarim 6:5, 10:12, 11:1,13,22, 19:9, 30:6,16,20), to fear/revere G-d (Vayikra 19:14,32; 25:17,36,43, Devarim 13:5), and to honor/respect G-d (Shmuel I 2:30). There are two ways we are instructed to relate to our parents: to fear/revere them (Vayikra 19:3), and to honor/respect them (Shmot 20:11, Devarim 5:15) There are two ways to relate to the Temple: to revere it (Vayikra 19:3, 26:2) and not to desecrate it. (Vayikra 20:3, 21:23)