It is a sacred Jewish custom not to greet each other on Shabbos night with A Gutten Nacht (Good Night) as on other nights of the week, nor on Shabbos morning with A Gutten Morgen (Good Morning). Instead, throughout all the hours of Shabbos, the proper greeting is Shabbat Shalom or Gut Shabbos (Good Shabbos).
This practice has a pure source in Ba’er Heitev (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 267:2), quoting the Shelah HaKadosh (Maseches Shabbos, Ner Mitzvah, end of section 61), who writes: “I have received a tradition that when a person visits his friend on Shabbos, he should not greet him as he would on a weekday, such as by saying “Good Morning.” Instead, he should say Shabbat Shalom or Gut Shabbos, thereby fulfilling the mitzvah (Shemos 20:8), אֶת יוֹםזָכוֹר הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּ שׁוֹ - Remember the Shabbos day to sanctify it.
A remarkable story illustrating this is found in the holy sefer Ramasayim Tzofim (Chapter 2, in the section on what I heard from the holy mouth of the saintly Rav Shlomo Leib of Lentshna, end of section 23):
Once, the holy Rav Yitzchak of Vorki zt”l traveled for Shabbos to visit the righteous Rav Shlomo Leib of Lentshna ztz”l.
On Shabbos night, the Rebbe of Lentshna wanted to go to Rav Yitzchak’s lodging to spend time together in love and friendship. However, when Rav Yitzchak of Vorki heard that the tzaddik wished to visit him, he quickly rushed ahead and arrived first at the Rebbe’s house, surprising him with great joy and greeting him loudly with, Shabbos Tovah!
Rav Shlomo Leib of Lentshna was delighted to see him, for they had been dear friends for many years. When he heard the intensity and heartfelt warmth of the greeting, Shabbos Tovah! he smiled and asked, “Do you know, my beloved friend, why the Shelah HaKadosh ruled that Jews should not say ‘Good Night’ on Shabbos night, as they do on other nights?”
Rav Yitzchak of Vorki remained silent, sensing that his friend had a profound answer.
Rav Shlomo Leib then spoke in holiness: “This custom has a deep mystical meaning. Aside from the simple reason given by the Shelah—that it fulfills the mitzvah of remembering Shabbos—there are also profound esoteric reasons in the secrets of Torah.
“One who understands the wisdom of kabbalah knows well that Shabbos Kodesh is entirely illuminated with pleasant and bright light. Shabbos night is fundamentally different from all other nights of the week.
“On regular weekdays, nightfall brings darkness upon the world—both physical darkness and spiritual concealment, as the forces of judgment hold sway. Therefore, it is appropriate to say, A Gutten Nacht (Good Night) to acknowledge the darkness.
“But on Shabbos Kodesh, the Shabbos itself shines and radiates from its arrival until its departure. Spiritual darkness holds no power on Shabbos at all! Therefore, it would be inappropriate to greet one another in a way that acknowledges darkness. Instead, we say Gut Shabbos—a greeting filled with the sanctity and light of Shabbos!”
Rav Yitzchak of Vorki was deeply moved by these words of holiness, spoken with fiery inspiration. The entire room was filled with light! He later declared: “It would be worth traveling a hundred parsa‘ot (approx. 400 miles) just to hear such words of Torah!”
This concept is explicitly mentioned in the Zohar HaKadosh (Parashas Yisro 88b), particularly in the section on Tikkunei Shabbos recited during seudah shelishis. There, the Zohar elaborates on the difference between Shabbos and weekday nights, describing the immense light and joy of Shabbos. Because all judgments and harsh decrees of the week are nullified on Shabbos, there is no place for words associated with darkness.
Thus, the Jewish people maintain this beautiful custom of greeting one another with Shabbat Shalom or Gut Shabbos throughout the holy day.
