SHABBAT

A funny thing happened to me one Shabbat in Israel.

I was dining in a Jerusalem hotel with a tour group experiencing their very first Friday evening Shabbat in the Land. Suddenly, an Ultra-Orthodox Hasidic couple burst into the room and the husband confidently approached one of our tables. He donned a long, black robe, impressive beard, side-locks, and a large, fuzzy shtreimel on his head. Everyone froze. What was this man going to do? When he opened his mouth, his smile and unexpected California accent made everybody laugh, and relax, as he welcomed them to his country. Having lived in Israel for over 30 years, he regaled the table with incredible stories that had each guest in rapt attention. His wife, wearing a simple, muted dress, stood closer to where I was and watched her husband in amusement as he worked the room effortlessly. This was not his first time welcoming tourists! After a few moments, she looked over at me, appearing confused as I enjoyed a nice pear I’d grabbed from the desert table.

“What’s your story?!” She inquired in a thick New England accent.

Nearly choking on the pear juice, I did my best to ask her what she meant.

Her eyes sparkled with a hint of mirth as she explained, “We eat very healthy here during the week, but on Shabbat, we indulge a bit when it comes to food. We certainly don’t eat pears! So…what’s your story?!”

Of course, God never instructed the Jewish People to eat junk food on Shabbat. He simply instructed the children of Israel to remember and observe the Sabbath, to rest, do no ordinary work, and to keep it holy. With few exceptions, the details are open for interpretation. (I absolutely enjoyed the rest of that pear!)

“Shabbat Shalom!” is such a beautiful, and often common, greeting in Israel. I’ve heard it spoken as early as a Wednesday evening, so great is the anticipation for the weekly Day of Rest!

Shabbat literally means REST, but it can also be translated CEASE or DESIST.

Shalom, of course, means PEACE.

So, I like to think of Shabbat Shalom meaning “Cease Peace.”

My very first day setting foot in Israel was on a Shabbat! The concept of “hurrying” was far gone from anyone’s mind. The entire country seemed to be on pause. We nestled in for some nice Turkish coffee and waited for our friends to arrive. We talked. We rested. We sipped. I came back to the States knowing I had to incorporate this rhythm, this routine, into my life. Into my family’s life, Jewish or not. And we’re not. But, I recalled words from the book of Isaiah:

“Here is what the LORD says… ‘Happy is the person… who keeps Shabbat… and the foreigners… who keep Shabbat… I will bring them to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer’…”

Isaiah 56: 1-2, 6-7

“When the sun has set on a Friday night bringing peace into your home…” - photo: David Kiern

Happy? Joyful? Guilt-free rest? Count me in!

I’ve had the absolute honor of sharing Shabbat Dinner with some precious families, followers of Jesus, in their Israeli homes. How could I forget the late Rabbi David Friedman leading us as we sat around the table, singing the Proverbs 31 blessing over his wife Margalit and daughter-in-law Naomi. Singing Shalom Aleichem (peace be upon you) and blessing the Lord Who brings forth bread from the earth and creates the fruit of the vine. We laughed. We ate. We praised the Lord!

I’ve shared multiple Shabbat meals at the home of my best friend Joshua Aaron. When the time came, I can still hear him call out, “In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth IN…?”

“…Six Days!” His children finish the sentence.

“…and on the Seventh Day, He…”

“…RESTED!!!”

The smell of roasted chicken, mashed potatoes & gravy, and, of course, fresh CHALLAH bread wafts through the air. It’s nothing short of a celebration. A holiday! A holy-day. Set apart, by God Himself, from the other six days, so His people could experience the rest they desperately needed.

It’s true: there exists a chaos, an inescapable, mad rush, in the final hours and minutes before Shabbat begins. Like the inevitable last minute panic of a party planner, or the final week before a long awaited wedding. The immovable deadline looms, and proper preparation seems impossible. Houses are cleaned, tables are set, the clamor of kitchen utensils and the savory smell of the family’s favorite dish mix together in the house. The sun gets lower minute by minute and shadows lengthen. Pure white plates and sparkling, long-stemmed glasses look their best when they catch the setting sun. The set table paints the promise of an ever-approaching shared experience with loved ones.

Candles are lit. A prayer is prayed. And suddenly, the tension releases. The sun has set. You exhale. There is no more to do but enjoy the fruits of your labor and just rest. Forget the cares of this world for one day. Remind yourself: it’s God Who runs the show anyhow!

The first time I heard the day of rest described something like this, I teared up with longing. I was so tired…from expending energies on trying, and feeling guilty when I stopped trying! The idea that, for just one day, I could hand things over to God, trusting Him with the whole world, and cease, without guilt…nothing sounded more peaceful.

Shabbat Shalom!

Minutes before Shabbat at home. (Sometimes there’s no time to bake the challah. It’s okay. You do your best.)