Mystics perceive the world as an artistic creation made by an invisible Creator, not merely components put together for a utilitarian purpose, but a present wrappped up neatly and presented for man to enjoy. A present from the lover to the beloved. First the heavens and earth create the frame, into which the painting is inserted. The hand paints the oceans, seas, mountains, sun and stars, the seasons with their fragrant blossoms and rich fruit, barley and wheat rippling beneath the late summer breeze. The willow and aspen stand by a chuckling brook that stumbles over granite on its way to a river. The pheasant rises over tall grass, flushed by a sudden disturbance. A deer bounds lightly up a ridge overtaking a rabbit nibbling on sweet grass. Into this, man is inserted. Man dependent on the environment surrounding him, but the universe will continue without man.
The world is given as a present into human hands with the admonishment to safeguard and protect it. like any other treasure, it can be corrupted, destroyed, wasted or lost through negligence on man's part.
Another way of looking at Shabbat is that each week the wedding vows are renewed with new festivities between man and God. We wear the wedding finery of Shabbat, eating good food, enjoying company and the moment. But as the day draws to an end, we know that the morrow comes, bringing with it the morrow. The separation of Shabbat from the rest of the week is marked by a short ceremony in which we ask Elijah to usher in the messianic era.
