We are beginning, b’ezras Hashem, to learn Sefer Shabbos Malkesa. Just like with every important thing we do, first we need to know what our goal is. What do we want to gain from this?
The purpose of this sefer is to gather the relevant topics and elucidate the meaning of Shabbos, especially as regards its special kedushah, which is even greater than that of Yamim Tovim. It says in the Siddur: וברכתו מכל הימים וקדשתו מכל הזמנים. Shabbos is greater than any other day or time.
Once we get a handle on what Shabbos is, we will naturally involve ourselves with it, and we will grow from it in Torah and yiras Shamayim.
1. Regarding Shabbos having more kedushah than all the holidays, and even more than Yom Kippur, as we recite in Shabbos evening prayers, וברכתו מכל הימים וקדשתו מכל הזמנים – what is the source for this? How do we know that Shabbos has the most kedushah of all?
In the Chumash it says: ויברך אלקים את יום השביעי ויקדש אותו, and Rashi explains that Shabbos was blessed and sanctified by the Mon. But it doesn’t say that Shabbos has more kedushah than all other days.
It does say in Maseches Sofrim that on Yom Tov, the Torah reading has five aliyos, because desecrating it is a d’oraysa. Yom Kippur has six aliyos, because it’s liable for kares. And Shabbos has seven, because it’s liable for sekilah. This is a source that Shabbos is indeed holier than all other days, as its punishment it is the most severe.
And the Ramchal writes in Sefer Derech Hashem (4:7) that there are many holy days besides Shabbos, “But they are all lower than the level of Shabbos and its Divine influence and its sanctity.”
