February 2, 2024 /23 Sh’vat 5784
זָכ֛וֹר֩ אֶת־י֥֨וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖֜ת לְקַדְּשֽׁ֗וֹ׃ — Be mindful of the Sabbath day, to hallow it.
That’s how the fourth of the ten commandments begins. ‘Be mindful of’ or ‘Remember’ Shabbat.
The Torah proceeds to offer this rationale for Shabbat: For in six days YHWH made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in it, and then rested on the seventh day; therefore YHWH gave the Sabbath day his blessing, and hallowed it. עַל־כֵּ֗ן בֵּרַ֧ךְ יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת וַֽיְקַדְּשֵֽׁהוּ׃
Key words and concepts? Mindfulness (or remembrance), rest, blessing, holiness…
That’s how Saturday gets transformed into Shabbat.
Shabbat is also the root of the word (and idea of) sabbatical (shabbaton in Hebrew).
Thanks to you, I have the privilege of some sabbatical time this year. I will be away for the next month — February 4 – March 4 — and again in June and July (exact dates not yet determined) — traveling a bit, meditating a bit, hiking (and skiing?) a bit, writing (hopefully a lot!), learning again to practice mindfulness. A month of Shabbat. I thank you for the opportunity to pursue blessing and holiness at a more restful pace. I’ll be back at Beth Am Israel on March 5th. I look forward to seeing you then.
Please join in the many gatherings, events, tefillah and learning opportunities at Beth Am Israel in February! I’m expecting a full report upon my return!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi David
