What is Shabbat

What is your name? Could you answer the question of what is Shabbat?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

We are a team of rabbis who answer the questions submitted to the site.

Shabbat is the most fundamental obeisance in Judaism where we rest from sunset Friday until night fall Saturday night to recall that G-d created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th.

As it says in the Torah, Genesis 2:1-3, “On the seventh day God finished the work that had been begun and He ceased doing any work on the seventh day. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because He ceased on that day from doing the work of creation that He had done.”

The observance of Shabbat is repeated many times in the Torah, perhaps more than any other mitzva. It is also included in the Ten commandments where its observance is further laid out. It says: “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall word and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your G-d. You shall not do any manner of work—you, your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, your cattle, and your stranger that is within your gates. For in six days G-d made the heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. He blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it.”

The Talmud elaborates on the way we rest on Shabbat, focusing on a ban on performing anything resembling 39 different labours, knows as the “melachot.”

In summary, Shabbat is a time when we rest and recharge. We connect with our family, friends, and community. We enjoy elaborate meals and dress in our best. Be sure to connect with your local othordox rabbi who will guide you with what is permitted and what is forbidden to do on Shabbos, be part of a community and attend services. You will thank us!