Keywords

Judaism, modern Judaism, Shabbat

Abstract

According to the Hebrew Scriptures, Shabbat was established from the foundations of the world. It was the climax of God’s creation (Gen 1:1– 2:3; Ex 20:11). God “hallowed” the seventh day “because on it, [He] rested from all the work that he had done in creation” (Gen 2:3, NRSV). Shabbat is also associated with the Exodus from Egypt (see Deut 5:12– 15; cf. Ex 23:9– 12). God commanded Israel to observe Shabbat as a remembrance that they “were slaves in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there” (Deut 5:15, NRSV). After the Exodus, Moses received the Law. In the Decalogue (i.e., “Ten Commandments”)— regarded as a summary of the entire Law— Shabbat is only one of two commandments of active observance (along with honoring one’s parents), and is the only day of remembrance. The remaining eight commandments are prohibitions (see Ex 20:1– 17).

Original Publication Citation

Hatch, T. G., & Marks, L. D. “Sanctuary in Time: Shabbat as the Soul of Modern Jewry and the Essence of ‘Doing’ Judaism,” In The Routledge Handbook of Jewish Ritual and Practice (Oliver Leaman, ed.). New York: Routledge/Taylor & Francis, invited (2022)