כי היא מקור הברכה
Ki hee me’kor ha’brachah
For it (Shabbos) is the source of blessing.
Hashem is the Source of all blessing. He chose Shabbos as the foundation from which blessing would emanate. Chazal (Bereishis Rabbah 11:2) state that, when Hashem completed Creation, Shabbos, the day of rest, the day of perfection, became the source of sustenance and prosperity for the entire world. The Torah says, “Six days work shall be done,” as if the work is done by itself. “The seventh day shall be holy.” This prompts Chazal to say that, when Jews observe Shabbos, Hashem sees to it that the work is done for them. They need not toil. What is Shabbos, the day/institution chosen to communicate this message?
Horav Shlomo Ganzfried, zl (Aperion) explains that one who believes in Hashem and knows that his sustenance depends only on Hashem, not on the quantity of work/effort that he invests, will not feel any sense of loss from refraining from work on Shabbos. To him, it is as if his work is done on its own. Indeed, the success one enjoys from his six days of mundane labor is dependent on his observance of Shabbos. The greater and deeper his commitment to Shabbos, the easier and more enduring will be his success during the work week. Thus, we say in our daily tefillos, “Today is the first, second, etc. day towards Shabbos.” The power and success of our mundane work are derived from the kedushah of Shabbos.
