Daf Yomi - Beitzah 2 - Shabbos and the festivals

The Gemara mentions a distinction between Shabbos and Yom Tov, in that the laws of Shabbos are more restrictive so people will not belittle the Shabbos, whereas the laws of Yom Tov are more relaxed so people may come to belittle Yom Tov. The Medrash states that one who belittles the festivals is akin to one who belittles the Shabbos, and one who observes the festivals is akin to one who observes the Shabbos. The Mishnah in Avos (3:15) states that one who belittles the festivals does not have a share in the World to Come. Although the Gemara here mentions a distinction between Shabbos and Yom Tov, essentially they are the same. The sefarim write that when HaShem created the primordial light, He saw that the wicked would not be worthy of benefiting from the light, so He concealed the light for the righteous in the world to Come. Nonetheless, this light returns on the festivals. Thus, the festivals are directly associated with the six days of creation, which was followed by the great light of Shabbos. One who observes the festivals is akin to one who observes the Shabbos, as he is benefiting from the great light of creation which was concealed for the future, and the Gemara teaches us that Shabbos is a semblance of the World to Come. For this reason, one who belittles the festivals forfeits his share in the world to Come, as he is demonstrating that he is not concerned about observing Shabbos either, which is a semblance of the World to Come.