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Parshat Yitro is a very special parsha. In it, Bnei Yisrael get the Ten Commandments. The fourth of the commandments, Shabbat, says: "Remember the Sabbath Day to sanctify it. Six days you shall work and accomplish all your work; but the seventh day is Sabbath to Hashem, your God; you shall not do any work- you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maidservant, your animal, and your convert within your gates. For in six days Hashem made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day, therefore Hashem blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it." (Shemot 20:8-11)

While most of the content deals with the basic laws of Shabbat, there are some words that hint to Shabbat's inner meaning. The Ibn Ezra comments on the phrase "Hashem blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it." He says that Hashem blessed Shabbat and made it a day where one is more receptive to become closer to Hashem as well as receive additional wisdom than on every other day. In other words, Hashem somehow built into Shabbat the ability to grow spiritually.
Rashi also brings meaning to an extra word. The Torah says "Six days you shall work and accomplish all your work…" What is the meaning of "all of your work?" He says that no matter what is still left to be done; one should feel as much at ease as if everything was finished.

In a way, these two comments, while seemingly unrelated, complement each other. Rashi's commentary is like man's perspective and the Ibn Ezra's commentary is like Hashem's perspective. If one can feel at relieved and relaxed on Shabbat, then he or she will be able to connect to God more easily; she will not be caught up in the normal stresses of the week and he will also have time to grow closer to Hashem.

This is relevant to us in Israel because were taking a year off, a gap year, a break from the stresses of America, materialistic things, college, and normal everyday life. This year is like a Shabbat for us; we are able to concentrate on ourselves and on growing closer to Hashem. We don't have to worry about the strain of college: the tests, classes, and maintaining a GPA. This year, were learning about things that interest us and there's no additional stress about grades or scores. We have the opportunity of a lifetime to focus only on our Judaism and growing closer to Hashem and we must take advantage of this unique occasion.