Vain talk on Shabbat

294. Rabbi Yosi and Rabbi Yitzchak were walking along the way. Rabbi Yosi said to Rabbi Yitzchak, It is written, "and call the Shabbat a delight, the holy day of Hashem honorable" (Yeshayah 58:13). "And shall honor it, not doing your own ways" (Ibid.) is fine, but what does, "nor pursuing your own business, nor speaking of vain matters" (Ibid.) mean? And what deficiency is there for the Shabbat IF ONE IS ENGAGED IN SPEAKING OF VAIN MATTERS?

295. He said to him, Assuredly a lack is caused TO THE SHABBAT, because there is not a word coming out of man's mouth that is soundless. The sound rises up and awakens another word. It is that which is called non-holiness, FOR WHATEVER IS NOT HOLY IS NON-HOLY pertaining to the non-holy workdays. When non-holiness is awakened on the holy day it surely causes deficiency. And the Holy One, blessed be He, and the Congregation of Yisrael ask about him, who is it that desires to interrupt our union? Who is he that needs the non-holy? Atika Kadisha does not appear nor dwell on the non-holy.

296. For that reason contemplation is permissible. The reason is that contemplation does not activate anything; no sound is formed from it and it does not rise. But after pronouncing words in his mouth, the speech turns into sound. It cleaves the air and firmaments and rises up to awaken another speech OF NON-HOLINESS. Hence it is written, "nor pursuing your own business, nor speaking of vain matters," BUT NOT CONTEMPLATION. If one arouses a holy speech from his mouth, a sound is formed from the words of Torah, rises up and awakens the holy ones of the supernal King, NAMELY THE HOLY SFIROT. They become crowns on his head and joy then abounds above and below.