In this blessing, we pray to Hashem that He lay us down to sleep in the shelter of His peace. The blessing closes with the words, "Blessed are you, Hashem, Who protects His people Israel forever." On the Sabbath, however, we close the blessing differently: "Who spreads the canopy of peace upon us, upon all of His people Israel and upon Jerusalem."

What is the reason for this change?

Sefer HaPardes L'Rashi writes that this may be compared to a king who on occasion found it necessary to leave his entourage and go off on his own private affairs. Because the king would be traveling alone, without all of his usual security officers, he found it necessary to take along a weapon of his own. Whenever the king would return, however, he would set aside his weapon. Now that he was in the midst of his entourage once again--whose job it was to protect him--he had no longer any need of it.

So too the Jew. During the weekdays, the Jew may find it necessary to go out in places and among circumstances that are foreign to his religious experience. During the week, therefore, he must pray to Hashem for His Divine protection. On the Sabbath, though, we do not ask Hashem for this protection. We close the blessing instead by declaring about Hashem: He spreads the canopy of His peace upon all of His people Israel.

There is a profound message here. Wherever the Jew goes, wherever he finds himself, he never loses his inner majesty. He carries that dignity with him always. But during the week, when he goes out into the world, he may at times feel that he is alone, and he prays to Hashem to offer him Divine assistance.

On the Sabbath, however, he comes back into his own. Then he can perceive the full measure of the majesty of the Jewish people. On that day, the Jew envelops himself in the mitzva experience. And therefore, on that day--enveloped in sanctity--the Jew may proudly declare the praises of Hashem, Who shelters His people with the canopy of His peace.

Copyright (c) 1997 by Rabbi Levi Langer

Courtesy of www.JewishAmerica.com