Welcome to Embrace Shabbat. In his sefer Yafel LaLevi, Rav Yitzchak Palagi teaches that Shabbat is called אחד , One. This is referenced in Tehillim (139:16): ימים יוצרו ולא אחד בהם , days were created and there is not one amongst them. The Yalkut Tehilim comments that this refers to Shabbat, which is called “One.” This is similarly seen in Mincha on Shabbat, where we recite אתה אחד ושמך אחד . G-d is One and His name is One . The Zohar teaches that one of G-d’s names is Shabbat, and therefore G-d is one and His name, which is Shabbat, is also One. Shabbat contains the concept of unity. אין כלי מחזיק ברכה לישראל אלא השלום , there is no better vessel to receive blessing than Shalom . It is this characteristic that allows for Shabbat to be the source of all bracha, as all bracha stems from unity. ה' יברך את עמו בשלום - G-d blesses his nations through the fact that they have peace. Therefore, in order for Shabbat to be the source of all blessing, it first has to unite the Jewish people. The passuk in Shir HaShirim ( ח:יג ) says: הַיּוֹשֶׁ֣בֶת בַּגַּנִּ֗ים חֲבֵרִ֛ים מַקְשִׁיבִ֥ים לְקוֹלֵ֖ךְ הַשְׁמִיעִֽנִי , [G-d is sitting the garden and says,] “Oh, you who sit in the garden. I am listening, let me hear your voice. [Speak louder so that I can hear even better.]” Rav Natan in Medrash Shir HaShirim likens this passuk to a king who becomes angry at his slaves and throws them in jail. He is curious about their conversations and leans closer to their cell to listen. The king overhears the prisoners saying, “Our master, the king! He is our praise and our life! There should be nothing lacking for our master, the king, forever!” After hearing their beautiful remarks, the king replies, “My sons, raise your voices so that your friends above can listen!” (referring to the ministers). The nimshal is that although the Jewish people are busy with their work for six days of the week, on Shabbat they get up early to praise the king. They come to the Beit Knesset, read Kriat Shema, and listen as the chazan goes in front of the teiva and reads from the sefer Torah and maftir. HaKadosh Baruch Hu comes down with the angels and says to the Jewish people, “My children! Raise your voices so that the chaveirim can listen! Learn a little bit louder! Pray a little bit louder! I want the malachei haSharet to hear you.” He continues, “You mustn’t hate each other. You shouldn’t be jealous of each other or compete with one another. Otherwise, the angels will watch you and say, ‘Master of the universe, You gave the Torah to the Jewish people, but they are not dealing with it! Look! They have hatred, jealousy, and competition amongst them.’” You must make sure to always maintain shalom. This conversation specifically takes place on Shabbat. HaKadosh Baruch Hu first brings the malachim to shul, so that they can listen out for Shalom between fellow men. Rav Wolbe points out that the midrash warns that the malachim may argue that HaKadosh Baruch Hu gave the Torah to the Jewish people, but they are not dealing with it! The malachim do not complain that the Jewish people are not learning it properly or with the right intentions, but that they are not learning it at all! If the Torah is learned in an atmosphere of jealousy, hatred, or competition, it is not even considered learning and G-d is embarrassed to show it off to the angels. After observing in the synagogue, the malachim continue on to the people’s homes. (This is why we sing, “Shalom Aleichem Malachei HaSharet.” We are welcoming in the angels who are coming to observe the shalom in our homes.”) The angels are called “chaveirim,” because they are together in a chabura. But it is not a big deal for them to always get along with one another, because they have no jealousy, hatred, or competition! Previously, we quoted the conversation between the angels and G-d, when G-d wanted to give the Torah to the Jewish people. The angels asked G-d to give them the Torah, but G-d responded, “do you have jealousy? You don’t need the Torah.” If the angels were to visit a shul without shalom on Shabbat, G-d would be “embarrassed” because He gave the Jewish people the Torah to fix their bad middot, but they are not accomplishing that goal. Our greatness is that our talmidei chachamim, who learn Torah properly and thereby fix their middot, are also called chaveirim! For example, whenever the mishnah refers to someone who is knowledgeable in the laws of terumot and maasrot, it uses the term chaver. The Rambam explains that “chaver”- a friend- is used to describe the talmid chacham because he has a proper chevra; his friend group treats each other with loyalty. This is why on Shabbat, we cannot carry from a reshut haYachid to a reshut haRabim . It symbolizes that we cannot go from the private domain to the public domain. On Shabbat, the Jewish people’s souls are connected and therefore are symbolized by the reshut haYachid, the domain of oneness. The nations of the world are represented by the reshut haRabim , as they are dispersed throughout the world without unity. It is for this reason that we aren’t allowed to carry from the private area into the public area. Have a Shabbat Shalom.