THE ORIGIN AND MEANING OF SHABBAT LAWS (I)

The Laws of Shabbat are many and complex. The Talmud records 39 headings that help to define each category of the Shabbat laws. But many of these headings seem obscure, to say the least, and there seems to be many possibilities that are left out.

In any event, why is it specifically 39 categories? And why do we need categories at all? What is the connection between the construction of the “Mishkan” and the laws of Shabbat, and why do these two things relate to each other?

The answers to these questions unlock the mysteries of Shabbat observance, and will help us understand why the arcane laws of Shabbat are as ancient as Judaism itself, and part of a system guaranteed to get us closer to God, and to ensure that Shabbat is not simply a day of rest, but a day of spiritual tranquility.