On weekdays, this middle section of the Amidah consists of 13 blessings which ask G-d
for his intervention on behalf of our physical and spiritual needs. Because it is unseemly
to concern ourselves on Shabbat with personal needs, or to request that they be fulfilled,
these blessings are omitted, and instead we focus our single blessing on Shabbat itself.-
4. Blessing of G-d Who Sanctifies Shabbat
In this blessing, we affirm the holiness of Shabbat as a day of remembrance of the
creation. We thank G-d for giving us this covenant between G-d and Israel, the
sanctification of the Sabbath day. We acknowledge our special privilege in being the
people chosen by G-d to receive the blessing of Shabbat and promise to pass it on to our
children through the generations.
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