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Shabbat
The Purpose of Abstaining from Labor on ShabbatThe point of Shabbat is the devotion of significant time to studying the Written Torah and the Oral Torah. On this day, each individual – whether man or woman, old or young – invests effort in developing his spiritual side and strengthening his connection to the Creator. Torah scholars derive pleasure from Shabbat because they are able to teach, and the entire nation learns from them and is uplifted.
Why was a day established on which we do not work? So that we will be free to study Torah:
The establishment of one day in the week on which we rest from all transitory, worldly matters is a powerful cause for many of the nation to be available to gather together, to congregate to hear from a teacher, and to call out the name of the Lord, [by studying] Bible, Mishna, and Talmud, each person according to his stature. The scholars will be content, because the people seek Torah from them. They will caution them about the mitzvot, and teach them the halakhot of each day and each week, as it has been found that this is the established custom of the entire Jewish people, wherever they live. With regard to this it says in the Jerusalem Talmud: “Shabbatot and festivals were only given to Israel so that they will study Torah on them” (Jerusalem Talmud, Shabbat 15:3). This is an aspect of the enhanced soul, as the Sages have said (Beitza 16a) that people have this [additional level of their souls] on Shabbat.
Abstention from labor is an opportunity for the entire nation to engage in Torah:
[Shabbat] contains a tremendous opportunity for the entire nation, including all its various factions, to study the divine texts, with their interpretations, and their insights. By this means, men, women, and children will hear and learn all of God’s mitzvot and perform them. We have found [it said] that Shabbat is equivalent to all the mitzvot [combined], due to its benefit that [all may] engage in the Torah, Prophets, and Writings [on it], and this is a very suitable purpose.