This late source articulates a notion whose roots lie in the classical tradition: the incremental arrival of Shabbat. For the devotee does not enter into the Sabbath at once, but progressively, building up to the moment of full-Shabbat like water heating up to the boiling. Through the mime of ritual the Kabbalist successively strips away the layers of ḥol and aligns himself with the dramatic changes unfolding in the penumatic world. Moreover, he comes to anticipate the Sabbath-order as he prepares for it. There is a sense that Sabbath's arrival is inevitable,l and this prospect fills him with joy.

In a sense, the preparatory phase of Shabbat stands “betwixt and between” modalities, belonging fully to neither the fading world of ḥol nor to the world of complete-Shabbat which it asymptotically approaches. It is a kind of corridor bridging two discrete realms, a period of profound change.

We have noted that Kabbalistic ritual almost always dramatizes a sacred event and is part of a larger mythic system or Story. In the Zoharic tradition, the dominant mythic subtext-the underlying drama-of Friday afternoon concerns Shekhinah and Her Liberation/Redemption from weekday Exile. This process generally unfolds in three stages, depicting first Her separation from Her entanglement in Siṭra’ ‘Aḥra’ and the setting of clear boundaries between them; then Her purification; and, finally, Her renewal as She is adorned in bridal raiment and brought to the threshhold of the King's Palace. Only after these events have occurred can the divine weddingShabbat- take place.

Meanwhile in the earthly realm, a related pre-Sabbath scenario is unfolding. The Jew, Shekhinah's symbol, is ritually aligning himself with the cosmic changes, progressively overcoming his sense of Exile as he prepares for the seventh day. He too must be transformed; before he can enter the blessed state of Shabbat, the stain of the week must be left behind. So as the changes occur on high, the devotee reflects them below in his purified body and clean cloak, in his enlarged soul, in his newly adorned home, even in the way social space is redefined via the ˓eruv.