The importance of keeping Shabbos holy

What is the importance of keeping Shabbos? 

When we enter Shabbos, we recite Kabbalos Shabbos and kiddish on friday night as wel as following by day time kiddish the next day. We ask HaShem to " Grant us Your holy Shabbos" eventhough we already received Shabbos on friday.

Why do we ask HaShem to " Grant us Your holy Shabbos ? "

Because there is a great difference between our Shabbos, the one we observe, and the Shabbos of HaShem. This is a light hidden from us, so in davening we are asking for HaShem's holy Shabbos, to give us an addional neshama, a pure heart and mind to grasp the shabbos that HaShem Himself observe.

In Jewish mystical tradition, Shabbos is not just a time on our calendar, it is a mystical entity on it's own, a state of being when we enter and keeping Shabbos holy, to make a vessel for HaShem to dwell in, and to increase a sense of closeness to HaShem.

There are many levels of such an experience, but the ultimate Shabbos is HaShem's own. Our Shabbos are a small part of that Shabbos mystery that HaShem allows us to share, when we received this precious gift.

By the means of the thirty- nine melachos the Mishkan was built, fulfilling the words " Know Him in all your ways. " The Mishkan was built through which HaShem's presence could dwell in the lower parts, bringing them to the upper root. This established that HaShem rules over the entire world, and all living creatures.

Making a home for HaShem thoughout the world by the thirty- nine melachos, which together represents all of the universe, all of us are uplifted by the holiness of Shabbos, which light spread throughout the world and all existence.

Our sacred labor during the week and engaged us fully with the world, finding what needs to be repaired and always seeking to restore wholeness. With this work we embrace humanity, but also reaching far beyond.

The Zohar teaches us that Shabbos is the name of HaShem and is perfect in every aspect, which means that nothing is lacking, and it need no work to fulfill any of our needs.

For that reason Chazal teaches us that we should celebrate Shabbos as if all work is done, and that we are lacking nothing! If, however, we behave in any other way ( that we still have needs ) we demonstrate that we are not a part of our community as we act as though the Divine Presence is not with us.

It is not just regular work that is prohibited, even work on the Mishkan was prohibited on Shabbos " I shall dwell within the children of Israel " ~ Shemos 29: 45, which means we become a dwelling place for HaShem. The Talmud teaches us in Shabbot 118b ~ " If Israel only kept two Shabbos, they would be immediately be redeemed. "

What are those two Shabbatot the Talmud is talking about?

The Zohar explains that Shabbos is the name of HaShem, perfect in every way. Shabbos is the life - force of both the upper world and the lower world. The flow of the Divine Presence as it reduces itself and enters this world in the form of the seventh day.

That seventh -day is what we call Shabbos. The upper Shabbos is the soul of the entire cosmos, even passings through cycles of the six- days. The upper Shabbos concentrates itself, giving life to the world.

By not fulfilling Shabbos, we removing that upper life- force, the Divine Shabbos, the cosmic soul, and killing the world, taking the soul from it. When we fulfill both Shabbos, the upper Shabbos, the soul of existence, and the lower Shabbos, HaShem's name will be concealed on the seventh day and within limitations of time allow Shabbos to serve between Israel  (Jewish people) and HaShem, this is how we connect to HaShem.

The Midrash describes Shabbos as the Bride of Israel, but in identifying Shabbos with the Divine Presence, the cosmic " seventh -day," Kabbalah introduces Shabbos as the Bride of HaShem. The Bride that joins together , and it is around this mystery, that  the Shabbos hymns/ song  " Lecha Dodi " is composed.

When you look at Shabbos in this light, your eyes will behold wonders, and your neshama feels a sense of elevated holiness.