The Jewish Calendar and Holidays (incl. Sabbath): The Jewish Calendar: "Sabbaths":
Why does the Torah (in Lev. Ch. 23) refer only to
the festivals of the seventh month as "sabbaths"?
The same types of work are prohibited on all the
holidays; the Torah defines it, in connection with
Passover, in Ex.12:16. Except for Yom Kippur, the
holidays are not equivalent to the weekly Sabbath
in this respect; only the Sabbath and Yom Kippur
are called "a Sabbath of Sabbaths" (shabbas
shabbason). Interestingly, the term "shabbason" is
used in Lev. Ch. 23 only in connection with Rosh
Ha-Shanah and Sukkos. From its use for Rosh
Ha-Shanah the midrash derives the three parts of
the Musaf service (malchios, zichronos, and
shofaros, corresponding to the three consecutive
words "shabbason zichron teruah" in Lev.23:24).
From its use for Sukkos the midrash derives the
fact that more work is forbidden on the first
and last days of the festival than on the
intermediate days.
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