The Beauty of the Jewish Sabbath

MT Winter was discussing the notion of Sabbath in one of my classes.  She remarked that every Friday, she looks at her “good friend Yehezkel” mentally and spiritually preparing for the Sabbath – and she is envious.  She said he is faithful to setting aside that time for spiritual renewal and closeness to God, and there is a definite peace about him.  She expressed that she wished it was something she too could experience.

 

 As I’ve been reading the many writings on Sabbath – particularly the Heschel book, I keep returning to that comment MT made, and remembering how it struck me that night.  I understood how she felt!   I’ve been in what I can only call a spiritual void for the last two years – so the idea of one day a week set aside for spiritual renewal in one’s self and one’s family is so appealing.  I long for that kind of weekly connection with both my spiritual self and my Creator. 

 

Unfortunately however, the notion of Sabbath – in the true sense of the word – is so foreign to the experience with which I’ve grown up.  My parents’ tradition – the Catholic tradition – is that you devote one hour a week to God in church.  A daily rosary is also encouraged, (which my father did faithfully everyday of his life – a small daily does of Sabbath for him, maybe), but 24 hours was unheard of.   Yes, we’d have “Sunday” dinner after church, and spend some time as a family – but there was also yard work to be done, housework, social obligations, etc.  And of course once the law changed to allow stores to open on Sunday, that last notion of Sunday family time vanished.  It was one more day to get things done.

           

I have to believe that unless you are brought up in the tradition – or marry into a family that practices the tradition, it would be difficult – if not impossible – to adjust one’s lifestyle to be faithful to the Sabbath.  For my family, there is a constant bombardment of all those same chores my parents did on weekends – PLUS – a slew of sport and club activities for my children.  They are only enrolled in one or two activities at a given time, BUT sports dominates weekend time.  Practices on Friday nights, games on Saturdays or Sundays or both.  On top of that are the scouting activities, the birthday parties, etc. What about holidays?  What if Halloween was on Friday?  The phone calls going back and forth between parents trying to organize; the running around doing last minute decorating and the shopping for candy.  What about other obligations – like going to my mom’s on Saturday to help her?  In a world where I try to squeeze 9 days worth of “stuff” into 7 days each week, I can’t imagine squeezing it further down to 6. 

           

So now, I’ve reached a new guilt-ridden phase of “where are your priorities?” I wonder not only where spiritual renewal time for my family comes in – but where any room is made for God at all.  In truth, it just isn’t.  Yes prayers are said, but in general, everyday life seems to just push my family’s relationship with God to the back burner. And of course, we’ve allowed that to happen.   The irony, is that my husband and I constantly drill into our children the importance of honoring commitments.  You don’t skip a team practice or a game. If you say you’re attending a function, you must honor that commitment.   I find it interesting now – shameful actually – that we never make that commitment to God.  And then I wonder – if we did make that commitment, could we stick to it?  How often would we say, “This practice is important”, or “I have to drive the kids to a party?”  I’m fairly certain we’d say, “God won’t mind.”

 

All this brings me back to my main point about MT’s comment.  I too envy that deep seeded notion of Sabbath.  I envy that commitment to keep the Sabbath holy, and somehow shut out the distractions and noise of the world for 24 hours.  And I wish with all my heart that this notion of Sabbath was part of our family.  With all the fullness in our lives, my exposure to the true meaning and power of Sabbath, makes me realize just how much is really missing.