What kind of bond doesn't break even when one side seems to give nothing back? Rabbi Ari Klapper explores the 12th principle — belief in Mashiach — through the lens of Shabbos as a bris, a covenant of love. Shabbos isn't just a day off; it's the sign of a relationship. Hashem created the entire world and in theory all of creation could have entered this bris with Him. But only Klal Yisrael stepped forward and said: we want it. That's why Shabbos is an ois, a sign — it represents the two-sided relationship that both parties chose. And in a real relationship, both sides give 100%, not 50-50. The Rambam in his pirush on Avos identifies the highest form of friendship as one where each person gives fully, regardless of what the other gives.

He illustrates this with a story from a bris he attended: a friend stood up to thank his wife "for taking on my klolos too" — meaning she went to work so he could learn, taking on the burdens of both. That's complete giving, not transactional. When the connection between two people is genuine, each acts from love, not from accounting. And that's what Hashem's bris with Klal Yisrael is — Hashem gives completely, and asks us to give completely back, not because we'll be punished if we don't, but because that's what a real relationship looks like. Mashiach is when that bris reaches its fullest expression. Practical takeaway: do one thing for someone today with no expectation of return — and think: this is what the bris with Hashem looks like.

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!