Rashi notes that the observance of Shabbos is placed adjacent to the law of fearing one’s parents. He explains that this order informs us that, despite one’s obligation towards his parents, this mitzvah does not preclude observing the laws of Shabbos and other mitzvos as well. We may wonder at the Torah‘s choice of competing mitzvos. Indeed, the mitzvah of honoring one’s parents does not override any other mitzvos. Why is Shabbos, which is viewed as one of the most lofty mitzvos, chosen to serve as the specific example?
We may derive from this pasuk a lesson regarding the importance of honoring and fearing one’s parents. The Torah distinguishes this mitzvah to such a high level that people might be tempted to place its observance over the primacy of Shabbos. Indeed, it was necessary for the Torah to distinctly forbid its overriding the laws of Shabbos.
In addition, one who scrupulously observes Shabbos or any other mitzvah, is actually performing a service towards his parents. The reward earned by one’s compliance to Hashem’s mitzvos serves as a source of merit to one’s ancestors. This unique opportunity to honor one’s parents can be viewed in converse. If one does not observe the mitzvos, he is detracting from his parents’ merit. It is incumbent upon us to reflect upon our actions and upon their consequences. In fact, prior to performing a given mitzvah, the author of the Yesod V’shoresh Haavodah would recite two declarations of intent (sujh oak); one for the actual mitzvah and the second for the mitzvah of honoring his parents. Thus, we see that our observance of mitzvos serves directly as a beacon of spiritual sustenance and merit for our parents.
