What if holiness wasn’t something you had to create—but something that simply arrived, overwhelming everything in its path?

Every Yom Tov, every kedusha we experience throughout the year, is something we bring into the world through our actions. Eating matzah on Pesach, sitting in a sukkah, hearing the shofar—each mitzvah brings down the kedusha of the day. But Shabbos is entirely different. Shabbos is not something we make holy—it is holiness itself. It doesn’t wait for us to sanctify it; it simply arrives, and our only job is to step into it. Rabbi Klapper takes us on a deep journey, showing how the kedusha of Shabbos isn’t like the kedusha of Eretz Yisrael or the Beis HaMikdash—both of which were created by human actions. Shabbos is a revelation, a direct gift from Hashem, the ultimate invitation into His world.

But if Shabbos is a gift, why do so many people struggle to feel its power? How can we tap into this kedusha that is beyond our reach? Through fascinating comparisons to nevuah—especially the unique nevuah of Bilam—Rabbi Klapper explains how Shabbos is the “aspaklaria hame'ira,” the clear window through which Hashem enters the world. We’ll explore why the natural world itself keeps Shabbos, why Gehenom stops burning, why even a river changes its course, and what this all means for our personal avodah. Tune in for a transformative discussion that will change the way you experience Shabbos forever.

Hosted by Rabbi Ari Klapper and produced by Eli Podcast Productions, this episode is part of the Real Judaism series, available on RealJudaism.org. Don't forget to subscribe and share to stay connected with our daily lessons and timeless Torah insights!