Shabbat is the Hebrew word for Sabbath and it is observed (Judaism) from dusk on Friday night to dusk on Saturday night. Why not just a day, starting with the morning until night? In the Tanach, God tells the Israelites to observe the Shabbat, the day of rest. A day in the Tanach starts with dusk. Genesis 1:4: God called to the light: "Day," and to the darkness He called:"Night." And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
The Talmud (Oral Law) which was handed down from Moses to Aaron and so forth and also a guide line in how to observe the Mitzvot (613 laws) is a type of "fence" that instructs how to observe with out risking error.
For the sake of non Jews who read my blog, it is not necessary for non Jews to observe these 613 commands (instructions), for many are just for the Israelites ( Jews). For instance, there is a command that Israel's land be at "rest" from agriculture, to allow a rest time for the land.
It has been agreed many, many years ago among the Rabbis that non Jews continue to observe the Noahide Laws. These are also mentioned in the New Testament Christian Bible, when considered by the apostles of Jesus. They also agreed that non Jews were to accept the Noahide Laws instead of accepting circumcision in which Jews practice. The Covenant between Jews and God).
Never were non Jews held to the 613 laws at any time, unless a non Jew converts.
Shabbat is a time of communion with God. Leaving all earthly matters aside.
What can one do on Shabbat? Well, it depends on if one is Reform, Orthodox, or Conservative.
The Conservative and Orthodox are more closer in this matter with the exception that Conservative allows for the congregant to drive to the synagogue on the Sabbath...given that they drive no place else.
There are some do's and don'ts on Shabbat:
Can not do:
Do not light a fire or extinguish a fire and that includes turning on electricity. Jews prepare their meals before hand or keep a pot on the stove that is lit prior to Shabbat and turned off when Shabbat is over.
Do not create any thing, which includes writing, drawing, sewing, knitting, cutting, and anything that would be considered making and creating. (God rested on the 7th day).
Do not drive a car (Orthodox).
Don't walk over a mile.
Carry anything that is outside of the stated perimeter. A woman's purse is fine, however.
Buy or sell anything. (Christians have a misconception that Jesus was mad because they were buying and selling at the Temple. The vendors were selling outside the court and this was allowed for vendors to sell animals to be sacrificed when Jews went to the Temple prior to Shabbat).
Gardening isn't allowed because one would be creating.
Baking as in creating a lump of dough and baking. No mixing such as water into oatmeal.
The Do's of Shabbat:
Walk under a mile.
Play games that don't require writing or creating.
Swimming or any other sport that would not include any creating, driving, or igniting fire, extinguishing a fire, or hunting.
Sex with your married partner.
Reading, telling stories, or any other pass time that doesn't involve writing, creating, or igniting a fire or extinguishing a fire.
Saving a life. Anything to be done to save a life of a human or an animal. Caring for the sick and wounded.
The trouble is that non Jewish friends have a hard time understanding these things. They might say something like: "Let's go to a movie, I will buy and what harm is that?" Or they might say: "turning on a switch isn't work!" It's at those times one has to really explain to them that these things can not be done.
Non Jews are not required to observe what Jews observe but there are Noahide Laws that they are to observe.
Many years ago, Christians had their own set of rules to how to observe their Sunday Sabbath. These rules have fallen to the way side. It used to be that Christians, too, did not work on their Sabbath, nor did they buy or sell. That has changed. The Christian Sabbath is looked upon a day to go to church but everything else is ok....watching TV, cooking, cleaning, gardening, mowing the lawn, and so forth is not forbidden or frowned upon.
Judaism 101:
http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm
Noahide Laws:
http://www.noahide.org/
The Talmud (Oral Law) which was handed down from Moses to Aaron and so forth and also a guide line in how to observe the Mitzvot (613 laws) is a type of "fence" that instructs how to observe with out risking error.
For the sake of non Jews who read my blog, it is not necessary for non Jews to observe these 613 commands (instructions), for many are just for the Israelites ( Jews). For instance, there is a command that Israel's land be at "rest" from agriculture, to allow a rest time for the land.
It has been agreed many, many years ago among the Rabbis that non Jews continue to observe the Noahide Laws. These are also mentioned in the New Testament Christian Bible, when considered by the apostles of Jesus. They also agreed that non Jews were to accept the Noahide Laws instead of accepting circumcision in which Jews practice. The Covenant between Jews and God).
Never were non Jews held to the 613 laws at any time, unless a non Jew converts.
Shabbat is a time of communion with God. Leaving all earthly matters aside.
What can one do on Shabbat? Well, it depends on if one is Reform, Orthodox, or Conservative.
The Conservative and Orthodox are more closer in this matter with the exception that Conservative allows for the congregant to drive to the synagogue on the Sabbath...given that they drive no place else.
There are some do's and don'ts on Shabbat:
Can not do:
Do not light a fire or extinguish a fire and that includes turning on electricity. Jews prepare their meals before hand or keep a pot on the stove that is lit prior to Shabbat and turned off when Shabbat is over.
Do not create any thing, which includes writing, drawing, sewing, knitting, cutting, and anything that would be considered making and creating. (God rested on the 7th day).
Do not drive a car (Orthodox).
Don't walk over a mile.
Carry anything that is outside of the stated perimeter. A woman's purse is fine, however.
Buy or sell anything. (Christians have a misconception that Jesus was mad because they were buying and selling at the Temple. The vendors were selling outside the court and this was allowed for vendors to sell animals to be sacrificed when Jews went to the Temple prior to Shabbat).
Gardening isn't allowed because one would be creating.
Baking as in creating a lump of dough and baking. No mixing such as water into oatmeal.
The Do's of Shabbat:
Walk under a mile.
Play games that don't require writing or creating.
Swimming or any other sport that would not include any creating, driving, or igniting fire, extinguishing a fire, or hunting.
Sex with your married partner.
Reading, telling stories, or any other pass time that doesn't involve writing, creating, or igniting a fire or extinguishing a fire.
Saving a life. Anything to be done to save a life of a human or an animal. Caring for the sick and wounded.
The trouble is that non Jewish friends have a hard time understanding these things. They might say something like: "Let's go to a movie, I will buy and what harm is that?" Or they might say: "turning on a switch isn't work!" It's at those times one has to really explain to them that these things can not be done.
Non Jews are not required to observe what Jews observe but there are Noahide Laws that they are to observe.
Many years ago, Christians had their own set of rules to how to observe their Sunday Sabbath. These rules have fallen to the way side. It used to be that Christians, too, did not work on their Sabbath, nor did they buy or sell. That has changed. The Christian Sabbath is looked upon a day to go to church but everything else is ok....watching TV, cooking, cleaning, gardening, mowing the lawn, and so forth is not forbidden or frowned upon.
Judaism 101:
http://www.jewfaq.org/index.htm
Noahide Laws:
http://www.noahide.org/
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