What is Shabbat?

Shabbat is the Jewish Sabbath. The English word Sabbath came from the Hebrew word Shabbat. It's pronounced Shah-baht. An alternative, more Yiddish, spelling and pronunciation is Shabbos, which is pronounced “shah-biss” or “shah-bus”. Shabbat lasts from sundown on Friday until three stars are visible in the sky on Saturday evening (roughly 25 hours). The greetings for Shabbat are "Shabbat shalom" (Hebrew for “Sabbath of peace) or, in Yiddish, "gut Shabbos" ("good Shabbos").

Shabbat features in the Ten Commandments. The commandment to keep Shabbat is repeated in the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew scripture that provides the foundation for Judaism.

Shabbat is a day of rest and enjoyment for us at the end of the work week, paying homage to the day of rest God enjoyed following the week of creation. Traditional Jews avoid doing any work on the Sabbath, reserving the time for friends and family, pleasant walks and naps, prayer and study.

Shabbat is a day of peace, rest, reflection, and hospitality for the entire community. The Torah invites all to share in the blessing of rest and explicitly includes those who are not Jewish to take a day of rest as well. Jews were the first community to establish this healthy custom of a day off from work.

The gift of Shabbat is part of God's covenant with the Jewish people. Honoring the Sabbath is one way Jews have of maintaining that agreement.

Return to the Guide to Shabbat and Havdalah for Interfaith Families Resource Guide.