The Jewish shabbat

Résumé du document

Shabbat begins on Wednesday just before sunset and lasts till the following Saturday when we can see the first star. Of course there are some tables with all the hours, called lou'hot, made by rabbinic authority. It is forbidden to work on Shabbat and that's why it is the official rest day in Israel, shops and public transport don't work.

The roots of the word Shabbat is "shev" which is the root of "lashevet", a verb used in Hebrew to mean "to sit". Most people translate it by "resting" however it seems it refers more to "abstention" (from work), cessation associated with the notion of voluntary rest. Jewish theology underlined the fact that Shabbat, with its abstinence of creative work, was chosen by God to enable people to take rest to regenerate their souls.

Extraits

[...] The Adventist church of the seventh day and other Christian movements has instituted the Christian Sabbath from Friday evening to Saturday evening. However, their observances diverge from those of Judaism. The Muslims established it on Friday. We should observe that according to the Tongdjan written by Huan (Chinese text written during the ninth century) volume 192 and 193, that is to say non-Muslim sources, they observed it on the day of Shabbat during two centuries after the death of Muhammad the Prophet in a way close to the Jewish one. Do you want to find out more about Shabbat? [...]

[...] To build 35. To demolish (with a view to build) 36. To put out a fire 37. To light a fire 38. To finish a work 39. To carry something from the private field to the public one. It is forbidden to carry a bag. Another interdiction stipulates not to wear Tefillin (phylacteries, those two boxes containing Biblical verses with black leather straps). Of course, if is life is in danger, a Jew have the duty to contravene those interdictions! [...]

[...] Delight of Shabbat (Oneg Shabbat) is an obligation to take advantage of this day and to enjoy : beautiful clothes, shoes, good food etc sexual intercourse are also recommended if of course the partners are legally married and consenting. ( The 39 melakhot (works) forbidden during Shabbat: According to the Michna, the Jewish oral tradition, (Shabbat these activities are: 1. To plough 2. To sow 3. To harvest or to pick 4. To bind in sheaves 5. To thresh cereals 6. To winnow with wind 7. To select grains of wheat 8. to put through a riddle to select 9. To grind 10. To knead 11. To bake 12. [...]

[...] In case of mourning, called a period of chiv'ah, people have to adopt a joyful behaviour during Shabbat except in private (ban on washing themselves and having sexual or pleasurable activities). Two candles are lit to open Shabbat, before the eighteen last minutes before sunset, and this mitzvah (commandment) is strictly reserved for women (mother or wife). ( What has to be done during Shabbat? Recitation of the kiddouch chel yom Shabbat (sanctification of Shabbat) upon a glass of cocher wine, at the beginning of Shabbat, before the first meal, after morning prayers and during the last meal. Eat three sumptuous meals. [...]

[...] To shear 13. To wash the wool 14. To comb the wool 15. To dye the wool 16. To spin 17. To hatch 18. Make some weaving-buckle to link up 19. To weave two threads 20. To separate two threads 21. To tie a knot 22. To undo a knot 23. To sew two knot 24. To unpick 25. To capture 26. To slaughter animals 27. [...]