The Shabbat ordinance

The Shabbat ordinance | JPost | Israel News:

There is a fascinating parallel to the alternative approaches to Shabbat within our biblical tradition. In one version of the Ten Commandments we find the “religious” reason for cessation of work on the Sabbath: “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.” In Exodus we find a “social” reason: “So that your male and female servants may rest, as you do,” basing the commandment on our people’s formative experience as an enslaved nation. This is, after all, the great innovation of Judaism: incorporating faith with a commitment to social justice, or – as Mordecai Kaplan aptly labeled it, promoting a religion of ethical nationhood.

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Shabbat and Shabbox, Persian Style | 30 Years After | Jewish Journal

Shabbat and Shabbox, Persian Style | 30 Years After | Jewish Journal:

This group, however, was different.  They were not family members, they chose to be together for dinner, and they were all students and young professionals. No mothers were there to cook, no fathers were there to recite the blessings over wine and bread. There was no need for the TV to be on, and guests weren't moved to looked thru their phones out of boredom or force of habit.

And there was one non-Iranian Jew in attendance.

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The Power of Shabbat and Tradition

The Power of Shabbat and Tradition 

The broader idea of having a day that is different than the others is so wise and obviously beneficial. But the only way to achieve it and take it seriously is if there is a system to support and enforce the idea and give it structure.

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BBC Radio 4 - Four Thought, Series 4, Matthew Engel

BBC Radio 4 - Four Thought, Series 4, Matthew Engel:

Matthew Engel makes a secular case for reclaiming the peace and quiet of the Sabbath, arguing that a proper day of rest will make us healthier, happier and more productive.

Four Thought is a series of thought-provoking talks in which the speakers tell personal stories that give rise to their thinking on the trends, ideas, interests and passions that affect culture and society.

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My beautiful Shabbat | The Jewish Chronicle

My beautiful Shabbat | The Jewish Chronicle:

By Maureen Lipman, February 13, 2014

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Unplug from technology and enjoy Shabbat together!

Unplug from technology and enjoy Shabbat together! 

THE JEWISH SABBATH, Shabbat, is a 25-hour period of rest lasting from just before sunset on Friday evening until nightfall on Saturday. The idea is to take a break from ordinary life and focus on family, community and spiritual growth. In our fast-paced lives, it can be a welcome change to stop rushing from work to preschool to the grocery store and, instead, enjoy a weekly reconnection with the people and ideas that really matter in life. If you’re looking for great ways to enjoy Shabbat together or just trying to find an excuse to make your kids turn off their cellphones for a meal – here is the Sabbath Manifesto (www.sabbathmanifesto.org)

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Making Shabbat Meaningful

Making Shabbat Meaningful - www.jewishaz.com: Families:

Instead of Shabbat being a day of “no,” make it a day of “yes.” Yes, have fun as a family. Yes, provide kids with lots of roles and responsibilities. Yes, enjoy special treats for young and old alike. Try some of these ways to make Shabbat fun for children of all ages, and it just might become your favorite day of the week.

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