It is a commandment to remember the Shabbat day, as written: "Remember the Shabbat day, to keep it holy." We have explained the secret of Shabbat in many places. The remembrance day of the world's rest and this is the principle of the Torah, and he who keeps the Shabbat is considered as one who keeps the whole Torah. We have learned that the remembrance of Shabbat is by sanctifying it in all manners of sanctifications. He who mentions the King has to praise Him, and he who mentions the Shabbat day has to sanctify it [with wine on Shabbat night and on Shabbat morning, as we have already learned.]

"Remember" applies to the male [the King, the aspect of daytime], and "keep" applies to the female [the Queen, the aspect of night], This and That without any separation. ["Keep" and "Remember" were said by G‑d in a single utterance.] The Shabbat day is the secret of the entire faith which is suspended from the supernal head [Atika Kadisha] to the bottom of all the levels [malchut] . Shabbat is everything [and comprises all the faces of Atzilut].

BeRahamim LeHayyim: What does this mean to me, and why is it revealed now?

"Keep" and "Remember" were said in a single utterance, as we sing in the first verse of Lecha Dodi every Friday night. When G‑d gave us the 10 Commandments, He miraculously caused us to hear simultaneously both aspects of Shabbat: Keep (from Deut. 5:12) and Remember (from Ex. 20:8). Hashem combined the female (ladies first!) of "Keep" with the male of "Remember" in one union. So too must we marry both aspects. "Keep" means being careful not to desecrate the Shabbat, while "remember" implies having Shabbat in our minds and hearts, and to give verbal expression to her holiness. If we do so, we are promised the gift of all levels of flow from above to below. What a reward!


Bracketed annotations from Metok Midevash and Sulam commentaries
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