Shabbat Makes Room for Everyone—Except One Thing

There was once a Hasid, a deeply spiritual Jew, who often walked through life with a heavy heart. He wasn’t ill, and there wasn’t anything specific troubling him—he simply had a naturally gloomy nature. In today’s words, we might call it depression, but in those days, it was understood more as a strong leaning toward sadness.

One day, the Hasid set out to visit his Rebbe, planning to arrive in time for Shabbat. But it was the rainy season, and the roads were muddy and difficult to travel. The journey took longer than expected, and he had no choice but to spend Shabbat in a village near the city where the Rebbe lived.

By Sunday morning, the Hasid finally reached the Rebbe’s home—but he was even sadder than before. He felt like he had missed his chance to find comfort and connection on Shabbat.

The Rebbe welcomed him with warmth and, seeing the sadness in his eyes, spoke to him in a lighthearted, almost playful tone. “Shabbat,” the Rebbe said, “is known to be the most welcoming host you can imagine. When Rosh Chodesh—the new Jewish month—falls on Shabbat, she makes room. She gives up her own special haftarah (the reading from the Prophets after the Torah) and even changes the Musaf prayer to accommodate Rosh Chodesh.”

“And when a holiday lands on Shabbat,” the Rebbe continued, “Shabbat steps aside again. She gives up parts of her prayers—Musaf, Shacharit (morning), Maariv (evening), Mincha (afternoon)—and even changes the Torah reading.”

“Even Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, when it lands on Shabbat, takes over everything—no Shabbat meals, no usual songs or customs. Shabbat makes room.”

“But,” said the Rebbe with a smile, “there’s one thing Shabbat won’t make space for—not even a little bit: sadness. When Tisha B’Av, the saddest day of the Jewish year, falls on Shabbat, what does Shabbat do? She refuses to let it in and pushes it off until Sunday.”

The Rebbe looked gently at his student and said, “That’s exactly what happened to you. You wanted to come to me for Shabbat—but Shabbat doesn’t host sadness. So, Shabbat kindly postponed your visit until Sunday.”

The Rebbe’s words touched the Hasid deeply. From that moment, something changed in him. He began to understand—and little by little, he started to change.

Courtesy of the Dirshu website.