Shabbat: A time of quiet

Shabbat: A time of quiet

1. Shabbat, or Shabbos, the Jewish holy day of rest, has been an important part of Jewish identity for thousands of years. There are many ways to celebrate Shabbat, but all of them emphasize setting aside time as sacred and special.
2. Other religions also have special days of rest. For example, Muslims have a special prayer service on Fridays, and Christians rest on Saturday or Sunday.

What is Shabbat?

3. One of the most common ways to celebrate Shabbat is to avoid work. This idea comes from the Ten Commandments in the Hebrew Bible. The fourth commandment says to keep the Sabbath day holy. In the Jewish story of how the world was created, God worked for six days and rested on the seventh day.
4. The Jewish calendar is different from the calendar that most countries use today. In the Jewish calendar, the days begin at night. So, Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday evening and lasts until stars can be seen on Saturday evening. At its core, Shabbat is about making time for the things that are important to all humans: friends, family, rest, and reflection. In addition, religious Jews use Shabbat as a time to reflect on God. In today’s world, homework, sports, clubs, and work have pushed further and further into time that was once for family and rest. Shabbat is about saying no to these distractions and yes to being present.

Shabbat rules and traditions

5. Shabbat is celebrated in many different ways, but all these ways are designed to set the day apart as a special time. For Orthodox Jews, who believe that Jewish law should be followed exactly, there are 39 types of work that are not allowed during Shabbat. These include types of work like burning, tearing, and writing. So, for example, many Orthodox Jews will rip their toilet paper before Shabbat begins, so they don't break the rule about tearing. Other members of the Jewish community believe that Judaism should evolve to fit in with the modern world. They may still choose to avoid these 39 types of work, but many don't. Instead, they make the day special in their own unique ways. For those who are religious, the day may be a time to study the Jewish holy book, called the Torah. For others, it may be a time to appreciate nature or connect with members of the community.

Shabbat dinner

6. One of the most important ways that Shabbat encourages presence with others is through a special dinner held on Friday evening. This dinner is a time to focus on friends and family, without distractions from technology or work.
7. Shabbat begins with a blessing over a pair of special candles. For those who strictly avoid the 39 types of work, these candles represent a way to have light without starting a fire during Shabbat. The candles also represent the light that people spread by studying the Torah and leading a moral life.
8. Then come more blessings. There’s a ritual hand washing and a blessing over wine called a kiddush. There’s also hamotzi, which is a blessing over a braided shabbat bread called challah. Then the meal begins!
9. What kind of food is served can be shaped by the Shabbat rules around cooking. Often, dinner is prepared using a slow cooker. This allows food to be served warm even though it wasn’t cooked during Shabbat. A family’s heritage also often influences what food is eaten at Shabbat dinner. Jews whose ancestors came from Eastern or Central Europe may cook a

   braise

   , such as a brisket. Jews whose ancestors came from Spain, Portugal, the Middle East, or North Africa may make tagine, which is a thick, slow-cooked stew. After dinner, many families will play games or sing songs together.
10. Although Shabbat is unique for each person who observes it, this special day represents a time for members of the Jewish community to increase family unity, rest, reflect, and connect with their heritage.