Kabbalah sa Isaias 58:13: Sha'arei Kedusha & Sha'arei Orah

Shabbat is known to be equal to all of the mitzvot.⁶⁴⁷Midrash Shemot Rabba 25:12 Even the wicked are granted respite on Shabbat and the fires of purgatory (Gehinnom) are dimmed for them. However, when it comes to those who transgress Shabbat, their fires are not dimmed even on Shabbat.⁶⁴⁸Tikkunei Zohar, Tikkun 24, 69b Our sages, of blessed memory, stated,⁶⁴⁹Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 118b; Also see Shemot Rabba 25:12 ibid. “If only the Jewish people would keep two [consecutive] Shabbats in accordance with the Halachah-Torah law, they would be immediately redeemed.” Our sages, of blessed memory, also stated,⁶⁵⁰Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 118b ibid.; Also see Tzava’at HaRivash translated as The Way of The Baal Shem Tov, Section 18. “Anyone who observes Shabbat in accordance with its laws, even if he is an idolater like the generation of Enosh, he is forgiven, as it states,⁶⁵¹Isaiah 52:6 ‘Praiseworthy is the man (Enosh-אנוש) who does this and the person who grasps it tightly, who guards the Shabbat against desecration (Meichalelo-מחללו).’ Do not read it ‘against desecration (Meichalelo-מחללו),’ but rather, ‘he is forgiven (Machul Lo-מחול לו).’” It likewise is written,⁶⁵²Isaiah 58:13 “If you restrain your foot because it is the Shabbat, refrain from accomplishing your own desires on My holy day; If you proclaim the Shabbat ‘a delight,’ and the holy [day] of HaShem-יהו״ה ‘honored,’ and you honor it by not engaging in your own affairs, from seeking your own needs or discussing the forbidden – then you will delight in HaShem-יהו״ה, and I will mount you astride the heights of the world; I will provide you the heritage of your forefather Yaakov, for the mouth of HaShem-יהו״ה has spoken.”

Honoring the Shabbat: As you know, Shabbat is equal to the entire Torah,⁷¹⁰Midrash Shemot Rabba 25:12 as explained at the beginning of this gate. Review that section in depth. It is written,⁷¹¹Isaiah 58:13 “If you restrain your foot because it is Shabbat, refrain from accomplishing your own desires on My holy day; If you proclaim the Shabbat ‘a delight,’ and the holy [day] of HaShem-יהו״ה ‘honored,’ and you honor it by not engaging in your own affairs, from seeking your own needs or discussing the forbidden – then you will delight in HaShem-יהו״ה, and I will mount you astride the heights of the world; I will provide you the heritage of your forefather Yaakov, for the mouth of HaShem-יהו״ה has spoken.” You are familiar with the well-known story of Yosef who cherishes Shabbat (Yosef Mokir Shabbat),⁷¹²Talmud Bavli, Shabbat 119a – The Talmud related a story of Yosef who cherishes Shabbat: There was a gentile on his property was extremely plentiful. The astrologers told him that all of his property would be consumed by Yosef who cherishes Shabbat. He went and sold all his property, bought a precious pearl, and placed it in his hat. When he was crossing a river in a ferry, the wind blew off his hat and cast it into the water, and a fish swallowed it. The fish was caught and brought to shore right before Shabbat eve. The fishermen said, “Who buys fish at a time like this?” The people said, “Go bring it to Yosef who cherishes Shabbat, as he regularly purchases delicacies for Shabbat.” They brought it to him and he purchased it, and when he opened the fish, he found the pearl inside. He later sold it for thirteen vessels filled with golden dinars. An elderly man encountered him and said, “One who lends to Shabbat, Shabbat repays him.” who on account of honoring Shabbat, merited inheriting the great wealth of his gentile neighbor. Similarly, there is the story⁷¹³Shabbat 119a ibid. of Rabbi Chiya bar Abba, who was the guest of a certain man in Laodicea who would eat his Shabbat meals on a table made of gold, affixed with sixteen chains of silver. This table was so heavy that sixteen people were needed to carry it, and it was laden with bowls, cups, pitchers and flasks, and every kind of food, delicacy and fragrant spice created in the six days of creation. When Rabbi Chiya bar Abba asked him what he had done to merit all of this, he responded, “I was a slaughterer, and from the choicest parts of the finest animals I would say, ‘This will be for Shabbat!’” Our sages, of blessed memory, stated,⁷¹⁴Shabbat 119a ibid. “By what virtue do the wealthy who live outside of the Land of Israel merit their wealth? Because they honor and delight in the Shabbat!”

When you understand this,¹²⁰Isaiah 58:13 “You will call Shabbat a delight (Oneg-ענג) and the holy of HaShem-יהו"ה honored.” “You will call Shabbat a delight (Oneg-ענג),” refers to our Shabbat, “and the holy of HaShem-יהו"ה honored,” refers to the upper Shabbat, which is called Jubilee-Yovel-יובל. Therefore, our sages, of blessed memory explained that,¹²¹Talmud Bavli Shabbat 119a “the holy of HaShem-יהו"ה” refers to the Day of Atonements (Yom HaKippurim). Know and have faith that all atonement comes from the Jubilee-Yovel-יובל (Binah) and from there forgiveness is drawn to the quality of HaShem’s-יהו"ה Lordship-Adona”y-אדנ"י. It then is said,¹²²Daniel 9:9 “Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord-Adona”y-אדנ"י our God,” and it says,¹²³Daniel 9:19 “Lord-Adona”y-אדנ"י listen, Lord-Adona”y-אדנ"י forgive, Lord-Adona”y-אדנ"י be attentive.” Later, in its place (in the Eighth Gate) the reason that the quality of the Jubilee-Yovel-יובל is called both seventh and eighth will be explained.