What is Shabbat

175. When Shabbat enters, the crier proclaims throughout all the firmaments 'be prepared, O Chariots; be prepared, O legions, before your Master'. Then a spirit comes from the south, WHICH IS THE LIGHT OF CHESED. That spirit expands over all those armies and legions of the right side, and they wrap themselves in it. That spirit is called 'the precious garment of Shabbat'. Then the tables people set in this world are placed in one chamber, WHICH IS MALCHUT. Happy is the portion of the person, whose set table is considered well prepared, and everything is arranged without shame, each man according to his means.

176. When Shabbat comes in, the holy nation has to wash themselves from the work week's habits. What is the sense? During the work week, a different spirit roams and hovers about the people, and when a person wishes to be released from that spirit and come into the influence of another, holy and Supernal Spirit, he should wash himself, so that that holy Supernal Spirit shall rest upon him.

177. Come and see the lofty meaning of the matter. All these six days, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF ZEIR ANPIN are united within the secret of a certain holy point, MALCHUT, and all the days become one with it. There are other days that stand outside on the Other Side, namely, CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF THE KLIPOT and there are days which are CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF MALCHUT that stand inside the holy circle, united within the holy point, MALCHUT OF MALCHUT.

178. And holy Yisrael and all those who work in holiness all the days of Shabbat, THEIR six days are joined with the six inner days which are CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF MALCHUT that are united within the point of MALCHUT OF MALCHUT to guard and keep it. And all the six days of that Shabbat pertain to that hidden point. And when Shabbat commences, the point, MALCHUT OF MALCHUT, ascends and is crowned and united above, and they are all hidden in it.

179. Come and see, there are days and there are days. THERE ARE workdays, as we learned, that are outside for the nations CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF THE OTHER SIDE. The days of Shabbat, the six weekdays, exist for Yisrael CHESED, GVURAH, TIFERET, NETZACH, HOD AND YESOD OF MALCHUT. When this point ascends, everything is concealed THE SIX SFIROT IN IT and it goes up. Once it ascends, it is called Shabbat.

180. HE ASKS: What is Shabbat, NAMELY, WHY IS IT CALLED BY THE NAME SHABBAT? You may say it is due to rest from work, as written, "because in it He rested (Heb. shavat)" (Beresheet 2:3), and this is correct. But the secret of the matter is that since that point ascended and its light is shining, it adorns itself with the patriarchs, CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET OF ZEIR ANPIN. When it does so, it is joined and united with them and together everything is called Shabbat. THAT IS TO SAY, THE PATRIARCHS TOGETHER WITH MALCHUT ARE CALLED SHABBAT. The word 'Shabbat IS COMPOSED OF THESE LETTERS Shin and the segment Bat. It has been explained that Shin refers to the three patriarchs who are united in the only daughter (Heb. bat) WHICH IS MALCHUT. FOR THE THREE BARS OF THE HEBREW LETTER SHIN ALLUDE TO THE THREE PATRIARCHS, CHESED, GVURAH AND TIFERET. And she, WHO IS CALLED DAUGHTER is crowned with them; and THE PATRIARCHS are crowned in the World to Come, WHICH IS BINAH, and all is one. And Shabbat indicates that all are one.

181. You may say that the Great Shabbat, WHICH IS BINAH THAT IS ALSO CALLED SHABBAT, is high up WHERE CHOCHMAH IS HIDDEN AND NOT REVEALED. Why is it called Shabbat? HE ANSWERS: assuredly it is so CALLED SHABBAT, and the secret thereof is that the point is always the essence of the eye, THAT IS, IT HAS CHOCHMAH IN IT, WHICH IS CALLED EYES. It is named pupil (Heb. bat), as is written: "keep me as the apple (Heb. bat) of the eye" (Tehilim 17:8).

182. The World to Come, BINAH, is a chamber to that supernal point, NAMELY TO SUPERNAL CHOCHMAH. And when it rises and takes the patriarchs in its wings to bedeck them above, they all are called Shabbat, in a way that the patriarchs, adorned above in the supernal point, are called Shabbat. And when the point below, MALCHUT, is adorned by the patriarchs, it is called Shabbat.