On Shabbos we receive a נשמה יתירה, additional soul. Indeed, R’ Tzadok Hakohen (1823-1900) would faint every Motzaei Shabbos when his נשמה יתירה would leave him as he actually felt it.
Here are some allusions to the נשמה יתירה:
- 1) The word ביני in the phrase ביני ובין בני ישראל, which speaks about Shabbos, is an acronym for יש בשבת נשמה יתירה. There is a נשמה יתירה that comes with Shabbos.
- 2) The Baal Haturim and the Daas Zekanim point out that the last letters of וביום השביעי שבת וינפש, on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed, spell שתים, two, since we receive an additional soul.
- 3) The word וינפש is rooted in נפש, soul. This alludes to the additional soul we receive for Shabbos.
- 4) The first letters of נקבלה פני שבת, let us welcome the Shabbos presence, spell נפש. This again alludes to the נשמה יתירה.
In regard to the נשמה יתירה, the Divrei Shaul (died in 1885) writes that there are those who on Shabbos are able to eat abundantly while during the week they eat little (mistapeik b’muat). It was said about R’ Avraham Hakohen of Amsterdam that for 40 years, the entire week he would fast, and on Shabbos he would eat without limit, for the honor of Shabbos.
Let us conclude with the words of the sefer, Avodas Hakodesh: Since the נשמה יתירה descends from heaven it is accustomed to hearing the songs of the malachim. The נשמה יתירה enjoys listening to zemiros, which remind it of when it was attached to its celestial root.