Do you find yourself overwhelmed by the demands of school work, clubs and teams, or other activities?
Are you driven to distraction by email, text messages, and cell phone calls?
Do you seek more quality time in community, with friends or family, or in private reflection?
Among the core religious practices of Judaism is the weekly celebration of Shabbat, the Sabbath. The great Jewish theologian and social activist, Abraham Joshua Heschel, referred to the Sabbath as a “Palace in Time,” a day of rest, reflection, and reconnection.
In our contemporary age, when so much of life moves so quickly, Shabbat comes every Friday at sunset and beckons us to pause from our work-a-day routines and celebrate the gifts of life.
Importantly, the power of Shabbat is not restricted to the one day a week we celebrate it; by observing various Sabbath practices we can learn how to live the rest of our days with greater focus, joy, and balance.
