R. Shimshon zt”l always had a special place in his heart for Shabbos kodesh, which he considered to be “the foundation of the entire Torah.” He always made sure to pour abundant spiritual content into it and utilize it to the maximum to attain special levels in Torah learning.
He held that one of the most crucial factors determining a person’s spiritual growth (or decline) is how he makes use of the day of Shabbos.
Even when speaking to fine yungerleit, he would emphasize that if a ben Torah grabs the day of Shabbos from beginning to end, and fills it with positive content, he won’t gain just one day and save it from going to waste; he will open up for himself a fountain of kedushah from which the entire week will be blessed.
Hashem created the world such that the main source of kedushah is Shabbos. The siyata d’Shmaya in learning and davening and keeping mitzvos properly is rooted in Shabbos. Because it bridges the gap between heaven and earth, and between this world and Olam Haba – for it is among the days of the week, but also מעין עולם הבא.
This is similar to Beis Hamikdash, which was the place where heaven and earth met, and from which blessing went out to the whole world.
Practically speaking, he would say that we should pay special attention to how we spend our time from Erev Shabbos until Shabbos is out, and fill it with positive spiritual content. Not to “chap a malach,” as he would say, but to immerse ourselves in spiritual matters and pursuits.
He would often say that someone who does so will undoubtedly become a gadol. “I heard from my Rebbeim that one of the Gedolim made a special point out of fully utilizing these times, and that is how he grew to be such a great talmid chacham. Someone who makes this hishtadlus will receive tremendous siyata d’Shmaya in every way, because he is blessed by Shabbos, which is the fountain and source of all the berachos.”
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