Everyone knows that we don't put tefillin on if it is Shabbos or Yom Tov. The reason given by Rebbe Akiva [Menachos 36b] is that Shabbos and Yom Tov are signs [אות] and therefore the sign of tefillin is unnecessary. A deeper meaning to this statement is that all week long we have a physical arm and a physical head. On Shabbos and Yom Tov our body becomes so elevated that we don't really have a physical arm anymore - it's
neshama-dike. We don't have a physical head - it's also
neshama-dike. So every limb loses its personal identity and becomes
neshama-dike.
This fits into the language of the gemara יצאו שבתות וימים טובים שהן גופן אות - meaning that Shabbos and Yom Tov are excluded from the mitzva of tefillin שהן גופן אות on these days the body becomes a sign [of our connection to Hashem].
Wondrous.
[Mei Marom page 25]
