As we know,�chumash Devarim�is referred to as�Mishna�Torah,�because it is�a review of the entire�Torah. One goal of this�sefer�is to review all of the�mitzvos�that Hashem�has given us, for the sake of�chazara.

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The�mitzvah�of�Shabbos�is mentioned nearly twenty times throughout the�torah, and is one of the most fundamental�mitzvos. However, inMishna Torah�it is mentioned only once, in the recital of the Aseres haDibros. It�s glaring omission is a bit puzzling. How can it be that one of the most important�mitzvos�in the�Torah�is barely mentioned in�Mishna�Torah? We know that nothing in the�Torah�is a coincidence; therefore the intentional lack of�chazarah�of Shabbos�begs further�iyun�and explanation.

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The�Meshech�Chochma�explains that we learn the importance of�Shabbos�from the�mikoshesh eitzim. When�Moshe�asked�Hashem�what the appropriate punishment for the�mikoshesh eitzim�was,�Hashem�responded that he should be taken out and stoned in front of the whole congregation to show the rest of�klal�Yisroel�how severe�chillul Shabbos�is. The public stoning left such a lasting impression on�klal�Yisroelthat there was no need to mention an�ahzara�(a warning) for�Shabbos�anymore. They saw how�choshov�and�heilige�Shabbos�is from theparasha�of the�mekoshesh,�leaving no need to mention it again in�arvos�moav.

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Similarly, the�Ramban�writes in his introduction to�sefer�Devarim�that�mishna�Torah�is a�chazarah. He continues to explain this, saying that there�s no need to mention the�mitzvos�that pertain to�Kohanim�a second time because��kohanim zerizus heim�.�Since the�Kohanim�weremidakdek�in their�mitzvos�there was no need to review the laws pertaining to them.��We see the same concept with�klal�Yisroel�andShabbos. Only the�mitzvos�that needed�chizuk�were repeated; the�mitzvos�that didn�t need�chizuk�due to the nation�s extra commitment, such as�Shabbos, were not repeated.

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There�s a story brought down with�Reb�Yitzchok�Sheiner, the current�Rosh�Hayeshiva�of�Kaminetz�in�eretz�Yisroel.��When he was younger he attended college in Pittsburgh. His professor was Jewish but unfortunately not frum.��One day his professor came in and announced his engagement to a non-Jew. The wedding date was set and he wanted to share the good news with his class.��As the wedding date approached closer and closer he kept on pushing it off.��He pushed it off once, and then again, and then again.��After the third time he broke the �shidduch�. A short while after that�Reb�Yitzchok�built up enough courage to ask the professor why he had broken his engagement.��His professor replied with the following:��when I was a young child I had the opportunity to visit the�Chofetz�Chaim�just once, even sleeping in his house for a night.��His image left such a strong impression on me that I just couldn�t bring myself to marry a�shiksa�no matter how much I wanted to.��

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This story teaches us that all a person needs in order to achieve a level of greatness is to see one incident, big or small, that leaves a lasting impression. The vision�bnei Yisrael�had of the painful stoning of the�mikoshesh eitzim�stayed with them forever, instilling within them the importance of�shmiras Shabbos.�If a person witnesses something positive and he internalizes it and keeps it with him, it can change his life forever.��We have to also be careful for the opposite,�chas�v�shalom. Negative impressions can also, god forbid, change our outlooks or attitudes forever.

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Hashem�should give us the�siyata�d�shmaya�to witness only good things which will help us change our lives for the better to help us witness the coming of�Moshiach�in our days.

HAVE A GREAT SHABBOS.

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