~Albert Einstein
Shabbat is a miracle in my life. It was not until I was in my 40s that I discovered Shabbat. I started attending a Reform Synagogue about 10 years ago in 2003. I never had heard of resting on Shabbat until that time. My interfaith family of origin celebrated Sundays and my mother wanted Saturday to be a work day. My father, unfortunately, did not celebrate his Shabbat on Saturday--he was working on Saturdays AND Sundays. I never had heard of a Saturday holy day before. Sheltered and as uninformed as I was--I always thought Friday night was a time to party, and so was Saturday night--but I never dreamed of resting. Now it is different--my conversion to Judaism changed everything--I have the gift from Adonai and my converting Rabbi to rest one day per week--and that is exactly what I do is rest.
I anticipate every Shabbat with adoration during the week--how I love Shabbat! On Fridays for the entire day I look forward to the sun setting--Friday is a time to wait for the sunset. I look up the exact time on Fridays on a weather website when the sun is setting. And I watch my wristwatch and look out the window to see the pink clouds and beautiful sky as the sun sets on Shabbat. After the sun goes down on Friday night--I open my Siddur (prayer book) and begin to pray. And I feel holy and so chosen to be able to do this. I studied Judaism for 10 years and now I am able to rest. I always have a large kosher Shabbat meal on Friday evenings and this starts it off right.
I stay away from the marketplace on Shabbat and never spend even a dime. No money transferring at all on Shabbat. I try not to create and I try not to email. I just keep my nose in my siddur and keep lying in bed until I want to lounge around another room in my home--eating kosher foods and snacking at ease, no exercising, and I try my hardest to promote peace with everyone on Shabbat. I treat myself to 2 bites of my favorite candy bar on Shabbat; whereas during the week I only have one bite. It is indeed a very special day! It is the day Adonai stopped creating the world and He rested on this day. Adonai, by example has taught me how to rest!
I definitely intentionally do not work at all on Shabbat. It is a complete day of rest. But I do not turn off the lights on Shabbat--I see that as an Orthodox ritual and I am a Conservative Jew and so do not follow Orthodox rituals. I restore my body and mind with a complete siesta, and my whole attitude is to find ways to celebrate and to smile at everyone I meet. I love to laugh on Shabbat and always try to be glad. I try to be kind and polite to everyone I meet, stranger or friend on Shabbat. I also dress in all white on Shabbat. This helps me really feel holy on Shabbat--it is a time to feel holy.
I read the Torah Parashah portion the Sunday one week before Shabbat but review it all through the week and pick up and open the Torah again on Saturday to review it. I try to do mitzvot (good deeds) on Shabbat--to see if there is anyone who needs my help, or just to give a gift to a friend and to see him/her smile and be happy. I try to think of others. I find my good friend who is also Jewish and I make a point of talking Torah with him. We sit in his room and discuss our readings of that week's Parashah, and talk to enlighten each other with our learning.
I do not attend a Synagogue anymore, my chosen temple is one hour away by car, and I do not drive on Shabbat. I do not own a car anymore and do not drive at all anymore. But remotely by computer I am still very active with my congregation. On Mondays I phone my Rabbi and this is how I connect to the clergy 1x per week.
I always eat challah bread on Shabbat and I always chant ha-motzi blessing before eating. And I restrict my music listening to classical music on Shabbat. If that. I sometimes like complete silence to unwind and not to environmentally stimulate myself. And yes, I take an afternoon nap. I always have a date with my couch on Shabbat. I look forward to a special day on Shabbat and I always purposefully make it a special day.
On the Havdalah (end of Shabbat) I do not light a Havdalah candle, (I have a slight case of asthma); but instead I look at my reading light and place my hand and thumb under it to see the shadow on my hand that proves I am not dreaming, and thus I end Shabbat. I do not have real besomim spices to smell but I have a delightful perfumed body lotion I smell. Yes, one can make do and create a pleasant Shabbat and Havdalah even without owning all the appropriate ritual items.
I read the Torah Parashah portion the Sunday one week before Shabbat but review it all through the week and pick up and open the Torah again on Saturday to review it. I try to do mitzvot (good deeds) on Shabbat--to see if there is anyone who needs my help, or just to give a gift to a friend and to see him/her smile and be happy. I try to think of others. I find my good friend who is also Jewish and I make a point of talking Torah with him. We sit in his room and discuss our readings of that week's Parashah, and talk to enlighten each other with our learning.
I do not attend a Synagogue anymore, my chosen temple is one hour away by car, and I do not drive on Shabbat. I do not own a car anymore and do not drive at all anymore. But remotely by computer I am still very active with my congregation. On Mondays I phone my Rabbi and this is how I connect to the clergy 1x per week.
I always eat challah bread on Shabbat and I always chant ha-motzi blessing before eating. And I restrict my music listening to classical music on Shabbat. If that. I sometimes like complete silence to unwind and not to environmentally stimulate myself. And yes, I take an afternoon nap. I always have a date with my couch on Shabbat. I look forward to a special day on Shabbat and I always purposefully make it a special day.
On the Havdalah (end of Shabbat) I do not light a Havdalah candle, (I have a slight case of asthma); but instead I look at my reading light and place my hand and thumb under it to see the shadow on my hand that proves I am not dreaming, and thus I end Shabbat. I do not have real besomim spices to smell but I have a delightful perfumed body lotion I smell. Yes, one can make do and create a pleasant Shabbat and Havdalah even without owning all the appropriate ritual items.
Shabbat Shalom to all Israelites--may universal peace be ours always! Every Shabbat is truly a miracle in my life! Enjoy it and always keep it holy, never take a Shabbat for granted. It is our gift from God.
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