Judaism
Shabbat: The day of rest and holiness
· 7 min read
Shabbat is the heart of Jewish life: the day of rest consecrated to God, family, and community. From Friday at sunset until Saturday at nightfall, the Jew disconnects from the material world.
Shabbat
Shabbat is the most important day of the Jewish year (more than Yom Kippur, according to Rashi). The Torah commands it in the Ten Commandments: "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8).
The commandment
God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Shabbat is a sign of the covenant (brit) between God and Israel (Exodus 31:16-17).
Prohibitions
39 categories of work (melakhah) are prohibited, including lighting fire, cooking, writing, carrying objects, etc. But Shabbat is not just prohibitions: it is a day of joy and holiness.
Practices
- Kabbalat Shabbat: receiving the Sabbath (Friday at sunset).
- Kiddush: blessing over wine.
- Three meals: Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, Seudah Shlishit.
- Havdalah: farewell ceremony (Saturday at nightfall).
Reading: Talmud Bavli Shabbat. Shulchan Aruch OC 242-300. Sabbath poetry (Lecha Dodi).
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