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Shabbat

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{{dablink|For the observance of a seventh day of rest in religions other than Judaism see Sabbath.}} '''Shabbat''' (שבת ''shabbāt'', "rest" Hebrew language Hebrew, or '''Shabbos''' in Ashkenazic pronunciation), is the weekly day of rest in Judaism. It is observed, from before sundown on Friday until after nightfall on Saturday, by many Jewish people with varying degrees of involvement in Judaism. It is the source for the English language English term Sabbath, the Arabic language Arabic day ''Sabt'' (السبت), and the Armenian language Armenian day ''Shabat'' (Շաբաթ). It is also responsible for the name ''sabbatical'' year although that concept is also derived from the Jewish concept of the ''shemittah'' year. {{Jew}}

Etymology
The Hebrew word ''shabbat'' comes from the Hebrew verb ''shabat'', which literally means "to cease", or ''shev'' which means "sit". Although ''shabbat'' or its anglicized version "Sabbath" is almost universally translated as "rest" or a "period of rest", a more literal translation would be "ceasing", with the implication of "ceasing from work". Thus, ''shabbat'' is the day of ceasing from work; while resting is implied, it is not a necessary denotation of the word itself. For example the Hebrew word for "strike", shevita, comes from the same Hebrew root as shabbat, and has the same implication, namely that the striking workers actively abstain from work, rather than passively "resting". Incidentally, this clarifies the often-asked theological question of why Names of God in Judaism God needed to "rest" on the seventh day of creation (theology) Creation, as related in the Book of Genesis Genesis account. When it is understood that God "ceased" from his labor rather than "rested" from his labour, the usage is more consistent with the Biblical view of an omnipotent God who does not need "rest." Notwithstanding this clarification, this article will follow the far more common translation of ''shabbat'' as "rest." A common linguistic confusion leads many to believe that the word means "seventh day." Though the root for seven, or ''sheva'', is similar in sound, it is spelled differently.

Definition
Observance of Shabbat is mentioned a number of times in the Torah, most notably as the fourth of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15). Other instances are Exodus 31:12-17 and 35:2-3, Leviticus 19:3 and 30, 23:3 and Book of Numbers Numbers 28:9-10 (the Korban sacrifices). It is referred to directly by the prophets Isaiah (56:4,6) and Ezekiel (ch. 20, 22, 23) and Nehemiah 9:14, apart from numerous other allusions in the Hebrew Bible. Halakha Jewish law's definition defines a day as ending at dusk and nightfall, which is when the next day then begins. Thus, Shabbat begins before sundown Friday night and ends at after nightfall Saturday night (traditionally, after three stars can be seen in the sky). The added time between sunset and nightfall on Saturday night owes to the ambiguous status of that part of the day according to Jewish law. On occasions the word ''Shabbat'' can refer to the law of Sabbatical year (Bible) Shemittah (Sabbatical year) or to the Jewish holidays, or to a week of days, dependent on the context.

Status as a holy day
The Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and the Siddur (Jewish prayer book) describe Shabbat as having three purposes: #A commemoration of the Israelites' redemption from slavery in Ancient Egypt; #A commemoration of Names of God in Judaism God's Creation according to Genesis creations of the universe; on the seventh day God rested from his work; #A taste of the world in Jewish Messiah Messianic times. While the Jewish Sabbath is not considered a "holiday" by many other cultures and religions, Judaism accords Shabbat the status of a joyous holy day. In many ways, Jewish law gives Shabbat the status of being the most important holy day in the Jewish calendar. *It is the first holy day mentioned in the Bible, and God was the first one to observe it with the cessation of Creation according to Genesis Creation. (Genesis 2:1-3). *Jewish services Jewish liturgy treats the Sabbath as a "bride" and "queen". *The Sefer Torah is read during the Torah reading which is part of the Saturday morning services, with a longer reading than during the week. The Torah is read over a yearly cycle of 54 ''Parsha parshiot'', one for each Shabbat (sometimes they are doubled). On Shabbat the reading is divided into seven sections, more than on any other holy day, including Yom Kippur. Then, the Haftarah reading from the Hebrew prophets is read. *A tradition states that the Jewish Messiah will come if every Jew properly observes two consecutive Sabbaths (Talmud, tractate Shabbat 118). *The punishment given in ancient times for not observing shabbat is the most severe punishment within Jewish law.

Observance
Shabbat is a day of celebration as well as one of Jewish services prayer. Three sumptuous meals are eaten each Shabbat after synagogue services conclude: on Friday night, Saturday around noon, and late Saturday afternoon before the conclusion of the Shabbat. More Jews attempt to attend Jewish services Shabbat services at a synagogue during Shabbat, even if they would not normally do so on weekdays. With the exception of Yom Kippur (because it is ''not'' a mournful day and is in fact a great holiday), days of public fasting are postponed or advanced for a day if they coincide with Shabbat, and mourners sitting Shivah outwardly conduct themselves normally for the duration of the day and are indeed forbidden to express public signs of mourning.

Mandatory activities
According to Rabbinic literature, Jews are commanded by God to ''observe'' (refrain from forbidden activity) and ''remember'' (with words, thoughts, and actions) the Shabbat, and these two actions are symbolised by List of Jewish Prayers and Blessings#Shabbat Candle Lighting lighting two candles late Friday afternoon (no later than eighteen minutes before sunset on Friday) by Jewish women, usually the mother/wife. Image:Maurice_Ascalon_Shabbat_Candle_Sticks.jpg 250px|right|thumb|An example of a traditional Shabbat candlestick holder. This bronze example was manufactured in Israel in the 1940s. Although most Shabbat laws are restrictive (see below), the fourth of the Ten Commandments in Exodus is taken by the Talmud to allude to the ''positive'' commandments of the Shabbat. These include: * Recitation of ''kiddush'', or "sanctification," over a cup of kosher wine wine at the beginning of Shabbat before the first meal and after the conclusion of morning prayers (see List of Hebrew Prayers) * Eating three sumptuous meals (''shalosh seudot''). The first two meals (Friday at night and Saturday at late morning) must be initiated with two loaves of challah bread. While general practice is that these meals include meat, there is not a strict obligation to do so as there is on Yom Tov The third meal, eaten late on Saturday afternoon, is called ''Seudah Shlishit'' (literally, "third meal") and is generally a light meal and often parve or dairy based, in contrast to the first two. * Recitation of ''Havdalah'', or "separation," at the conclusion on Saturday night (over a cup of wine, fragrant spices and a candle) * Enjoying Shabbat (''Oneg Shabbat''). This can include activities such as eating tasty food, resting, or engaging in intimate relations with one's spouse. * Honoring Shabbat (''Kavod Shabbat'') i.e. making an effort during the week to prepare for each upcoming Shabbat. This can include preparations for Shabbat such as taking a shower on Friday, getting a haircut, or things done on Shabbat, such as refraining from unpleasant conversation or wearing special clothes.

Prohibited activities
{{main|39 categories of activity prohibited on Shabbat}} Jewish law prohibits doing any form of ''melachah'' ("work", plural "melachot") on Shabbat. ''Melachah'' does not closely correspond to the English language English definition of the term "work", nor does it correspond to the definition of the term as used in physics. Rather, it refers to the 39 categories of activity that the Talmud prohibits Jews from engaging in on Shabbat; they are exegetically derived (based on juxtaposition of corresponding Biblical passages) from the kinds of work that were necessary for the construction of the Tabernacle. Many Rabbinic literature religious scholars have pointed out that these labors have something in common -- they prohibit any activity that is "creativity creative", or that exercises control or dominion over one's natural environment environment.

The 39 activities
As based on the Mishnah Tractate Shabbat 7:2, the 39 activities are: #Sowing #Plowing #Reaping #Binding sheaves #Threshing #Winnowing #Selecting #Grinding #Sifting #Kneading #Baking #Shearing wool #Washing wool #Beating wool #Dyeing wool #Spinning #Weaving #Making two loops #Weaving two threads #Separating two threads #Tying #Untying #Sewing stitches #Tearing #Trapping #Slaughtering #Flaying #Tanning #Scraping hide #Marking hides #Cutting hide to shape #Writing two or more letters #Erasing two or more letters #Building #Demolishing #Extinguishing a fire #Kindling a fire #Putting the finishing touch on an object #Transporting an object between a private domain and the public domain, or for a distance of 4 cubits within the public domain

Status of prohibitions
Each ''melachah'' has derived prohibitions of various kinds. There are, therefore, many more forbidden activities on the Shabbat; all are traced back to one of the 39 above principal ''melachot''. Direct derivatives (''toledoth'') have the same legal severity as the original ''melachah'' (although there are marginal differences); examples are the related activities of cooking, baking, roasting and poaching, all of which fall under "baking". Indirect derivatives instituted by the rabbinic sages are termed ''shevuth'' and are much less severe in legal terms (e.g. they were not punished with stoning when this punishment was still in force). Given the above, the 39 ''melachot'' are not so much activities as "categories of activity". For example, while "winnowing" usually refers exclusively to the separation of chaff from cereal grain, and "selecting" refers exclusively to the separation of debris from grain, it refers in the Talmudic sense to any separation of intermixed materials which renders edible that which was inedible. Thus, filtering undrinkable water to make it drinkable falls under this category, as does picking small bones from fish (''gefilte fish'' is a traditional Ashkenazi solution to this problem). Another example is the prohibition (according to Orthodox and some Conservative rabbinic authorities) on turning electricity electric entities on or off, which according to some Posek poskim, is derived from one of the "39 categories of work (''melachot'')" known as "building" and "tearing something down" (the Hebrew word that is used can be interpreted as "destroying for the purpose of rebuilding"). The solution to avoid using electric appliances and switches commonly used involves pre-set timers.

Delineations
In the event that a human life (Jewish or non-Jewish, one's own or someone else's) is in danger (''pikuach nefesh''), a Jew is not only allowed, but required, to violate any Shabbat law which stands in the way of saving that life. The derived laws of ''shevuth'' are violated under much less stringent circumstances, e.g. a patient who is ill but not critically so. Various other legal principles closely delineate which activity constitutes desecration of the Shabbat. Examples of these include the principle of ''shinui'' ("change" or "deviation") - a severe violation becomes a non-severe one if the prohibited act was performed in a way that would be considered abnormal on a weekday. Examples include writing with one's non-dominant hand (according to many rabbinic authorities). This legal principle, however, is ''post-facto'' (''bedi avad'') and is not normally relied upon except in specific circumstances. Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Jews and many followers of Conservative Judaism believe in literal adherence to these prohibitions. Reform Judaism, generally speaking, says that while one should study those prohibitions, as one would study Jewish law, it is up to the individual Jew to determine whether to follow those prohibitions on Shabbat or not. For example, some Jews might find writing (or some other ''malachah'', or derivative of such a ''melachah'') for leisure purposes to be an enjoyable activity that "enhances" Shabbat and its holiness, and therefore encourage such practices.

Legal workarounds
When there is an urgent human or medical need which is not life-threatening, it is possible to perform seemingly "forbidden" acts by modifying the relevant technology to such an extent that no law is actually violated. An example is the "Sabbath elevator". In this mode, an elevator will stop automatically at every floor, allowing people to step on and off without anyone having to press any buttons, which would normally be needed to work. (Regenerative braking is also disabled if it is normally used, shunting energy collected from downward travel, and thus the gravitational potential energy of passengers, into a resistor network.) This prevents "violation" of the Sabbath prohibition against doing "useful work". Many rabbinical authorities consider the use of such elevators by those who are otherwise capable as a "violation" of the Sabbath, with such workarounds being for the benefit of the frail and handicapped and not being in the spirit of the day. Many Orthodox Jews avoid the prohibition of "carrying" by making their Key (lock) keys part of a Belt (clothing) belt.

Permitted activities
The following activities are encouraged on Shabbat: *Spending Shabbat together with one's own immediate family; *Synagogue attendance for Jewish services prayers; *Visiting family and friends (within walking distance); *Hosting guests (''hachnasat orchim'', "hospitality"); *Singing ''zemirot'', special songs for the Shabbat meal (commonly sung during or after a meal). *Reading, studying and discussing Torah and commentary, Mishnah and Talmud, learning some Halakha and Midrash. *Sexual intercourse with one's spouse, particularly on Friday night. (The Shulchan Aruch describes this as a "double mitzvah," as it combines procreation with enjoyment of Shabbat, both of which are considered to be mandated by the Torah.) *According to Reform Judaism "one should avoid one's normal occupation or profession on Shabbat whenever possible and engage only in those types of activities that enhance the joy, rest, and holiness of the day." [http://www.shamash.org/lists/scj-faq/HTML/faq/18-04-17.html]

Adaptation by other religions
Judaism's teachings about the ''Shabbat'' were eventually adopted and instituted by other religions as well. Christianity moved observance of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday in the process of its theological and historical split from Judaism.Seventh-day Adventist Church observes the Sabbath from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset as mentioned in Bible.

See also
*Jewish holidays *Jewish services *Sabbath breaking

External links
{{commonscat|Shabbat}}
- Online Shabbat Guide
- FAQ about Shabbat shamash.org
- FAQ about Shabbat askmoses.com
- Shabbat on Judaica Guide
- Candle Lighting Times for Shabbat World Wide
- Information on Shabbat from the Union of Orthodox Congregations
- a more detailed summary of the laws of Shabbat from Torah.org, based on the Shulchan Aruch
- The Laws of Shabbat A 37-part self study course) by Rabbi Daniel Schloss
- Honoring Shabbat

Recommended reading
*''The Sabbath'' Abraham Joshua Heschel *''The Sabbath: A Guide to Its Understandings and Observance'' Dayan Isadore Grunfeld, Philipp Feldheim Inc. *''A Guide to Jewish Religious Practice'' Isaac Klein, Ktav, 1992 *''The Artscroll Siddur'' Ed. Nosson Scherman, Mesorah Publications *''The Encyclopaedia Judaica,'' entry on "Shabbat", Keter Publishing House Ltd *''Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Festivals'' Ed. Leonard S. Cahan, The Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism *''Siddur Sim Shalom'' Ed. Jules Harlow, The Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism *''Sabbath - Day of Eternity'' by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan - [http://www.ou.org/publications/kaplan/shabbat/default.htm online version]. *''The Laws of Shabbat (A 37-part self study course)'' Rabbi Daniel Schloss - [http://www.aish.com/shabbatlaws/selfstudycourse/default.asp here] {{JewishHolidays}} Category:Shabbat * Category:Working time de:Schabbat he:שבת yi:שבת eo:Sxabato es:Shabat fi:Sapatti fr:Shabbat hu:Nyugalomnap li:Sabbat nl:Sjabbat nn:Sjabbát pl:Szabat pt:Shabat simple:Shabat sv:Shabbat {{catmore}} {{CategoryTOC}} Category:Jewish holy days Category:Jewish law and rituals Category:Hebrew calendar Category:Hebrew words he:קטגוריה:שבת

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