Prayers When Shabbat and Yom Tov Coincide
Question
If Shabbat is the most important Jewish holiday, more important than Yom Tov, then why does the Yom Tov liturgy take precedence over that of Shabbat when the two coincide?
Why is it that the main body of the Amidah text is that of Yom Tov, with some Shabbat additions, and not the other way around?
Answers
The Tefillot prayers follow the services that took place in the Temple. There were many extra sacrifices offered on Festival days that took precedence in the Temple, which showed everyone the importance of the Festival and let everyone know that Yom Tov had begun. When Shabbat and Yom Tov coincided, both the Shabbat offerings and the Yom Tov offerings were brought, but the emphasis was placed on the Yom Tov sacrifices for the same reasons. This idea is reflected in the prayers we recite when Shabbat and Yom Tov coincide.
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