Beitzah 17

On today’s daf, we get a ruling that we still see in action in the synagogue today. During weekday prayers, our Amidah has 13 blessings, while on Shabbat it has 7. When there is a festival, we add to the 13. But what about when the festival falls on Shabbat?

The Sages taught the following baraita: In the case of a Festival that occurs on Shabbat, Beit Shammai say: One must recite an Amida prayer that includes eight blessings, inserting two additional blessings between the standard opening three and concluding three. s for the two middle blessings, one recites one for Shabbat as an independent blessing and a second for the Festival as an independent blessing.

So Beit Shammai says – add one! But wait:

And Beit Hillel say: One must pray an Amida comprising only seven blessings, i.e., the three opening ones, the three concluding ones, and one in between. One begins the middle blessing with Shabbat and concludes it with Shabbat, and he recites a passage referring to the sanctity of the day of the Festival in the middle.

So, Hillel says just aff the festial to the blessings we are already saying – a kind of mash-up.

Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: He even concludes this blessing with mention of both Shabbat and the Festival, saying: Who sanctifies Shabbat, the Jewish people, and the seasons.

This is the final ruling (after, of course, a lot of debate). What I love about this, besides helping me know what to do during tefila, is the order here on the end. Shabbat sanctifies us, makes us holy and separate, and we sanctify the festivals.

A great lesson as we move into Shabbat. May it bring you rest, holiness, and wholeness.