#24 Shabbat – The Most Sacred Day

#24 Shabbat – The Most Sacred Day

Shabbat (שַׁבָּת‎ “rest” or “cessation”) is Judaism‘s day of rest and seventh day of the week, on which religious Jews honor the Biblical creation of the heavens and the earth in six days. Shabbat observance entails refraining from work activities and engaging in restful activities to honor the day.

In this lesson, you will learn why Shabbat is the most sacred and holy day of the Jewish week.

#1 WATCH: The World was created in 6 Days

#2 STUDY:  Shabbat in the Torah

Sabbath is given special status as a holy day at the very beginning of the Torah in Genesis 2:1–3. It is first commanded after the Exodus from Egypt, in Exodus 16:26 (relating to the cessation of manna) and in Exodus 20:8–11 (as the fourth of the Ten Commandments).

Genesis Chapter 2 בְּרֵאשִׁית

א  וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ, וְכָל-צְבָאָם. 1 And the heaven and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
ב  וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה; וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, מִכָּל-מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה. 2 And on the seventh day God finished His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.
ג  וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת-יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ:  כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל-מְלַאכְתּוֹ, אֲשֶׁר-בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת.  {פ} 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it; because that in it He rested from all His work which God in creating had made. {P}

#3 WATCH: Keeping Shabbat is #4 of the 10 Commandments

#4 STUDY: The 4th Commandment 

  1. I am the Lord, your God.
  2. Thou shall bring no false idols before me.
  3. Do not take the name of the Lord in vain.
  4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
  5. Honor thy father and thy mother.
  6. Thou shall not kill/murder†.
  7. Thou shall not commit adultery.
  8. Thou shall not steal††.
  9. Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
  10. Thou shall not covet‡ your neighbor’s wife (or anything that belongs to your neighbor).

#5 Study: The Purpose of Shabbat

The Jewish Bible and Jewish prayerbook describe Shabbat as having three purposes:

  1. To commemorate God’s creation of the universe, on the seventh day of which God rested from (or ceased) his work;
  2. To commemorate the Israelites’ redemption from slavery in ancient Egypt;
  3. As a “taste” of Olam Haba (the Messianic Era).

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:

#6: WATCH: Get Ready for Shabbat with a Bim Bam Sing Along 

# 7 Review and Response

1. What does the Hebrew word “Shabbat” translate to in English?
2. What does the Torah say is the reason for Shabbat?
3. Keeping Shabbat is one of the Ten Commandments. Which number?
4. What is more important Shabbat (weekly observance) or Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year)
5. What is joyful about Shabbat?

Need some help? We’re here for you. At any time, if you have any questions, please contact one of our teachers so we can help you. Also, at the end of the session, remember to review your responses in your Tamid Workbook so you can get credit for this lesson. Behatzlacha (Hebrew for good luck)! You can reach Sarah at (646)360-0689 or connect@tamidnyc.org