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Guidelines for Developing A Shabbat Spiritual Practice

by Rabbi Burt Jacobson

There is a word that is seldom said, a word for an emotion almost too deep to be expressed: the love of the Sabbath. The word is rarely found in our literature, yet for more than two thousand years the emotion filled our songs and moods. It was as if a whole people were in love with the seventh day. Much of its spirit can be understood as an example of love carried to the extreme.
Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath

Shabbat is the most ancient and central contemplative practice of Judaism. It was so important to the writers who composed the first creation story in Genesis, that they pictured God’s resting on the seventh day as a model for human spiritual practice.

Although Shabbat offers us a respite from the toil and difficulties of weekday life, it is not an escape from the world. Rather, it offers a model of harmonious existence that can contribute to how we live our lives on the other days of the week.

Traditional Shabbat observance includes a myriad of practices, but in essence it asks that we dedicate one-seventh of the week to a different kind of consciousness and way of living.

The multitude of traditional laws regulating Shabbat behavior succeeded in creating a day of elevated consciousness and practice; however, such a rigid, legalistic approach no longer works for those of us who have chosen a post-halakhic approach to living our Jewish lives. (“halakha” is a term that refers to traditional Jewish law.) I believe that a day of rest can be shaped without the plethora of regulations employed by our ancestors and by traditional Jews today. To do this, we need to focus on the conditions that are necessary for the creation of a Shabbat consciousness, and consider activities that engage us in a relaxing and holy way.


Rabbi Burt's Personal Shabbat Guidelines

Here’s one way that individuals and families who wish to begin to make Shabbat a part of their lives could begin to develop guidelines for themselves:

1. Pay attention to the kind of consciousness you wish to experience on Shabbat.

2. Pay attention to the things that are conducive to this kind of consciousness, and the things that interfere with it.

3. Experiment with different activities that promote Shabbat consciousness and with abstinences from activities that might interfere with Shabbat consciousness.

For me, there are ten aspects of consciousness that I would like to experience on Shabbat, at different times during the day: God-Consciousness, Holiness, Re-Creation/Renewal, Rest, Thanksgiving, Joy, Freedom, Love, Peace/Harmony and Unity. In order to experience such Shabbat consciousness, I need to allow these ten aspects of consciousness to take precedence on Shabbat, and I need to engage in activities that both express and nurture them, when I am alone or with my family or with my community.


Characteristics of Shabbat Consciousness:

• a sense of wonderment at the mystery of existence
• accepting the world as it is, without the need to change anything
• not goal centered
• living in the present
• living in the Presence
• restful and relaxing
• simplicity
• free of mundane responsibilities
• childlike and joyous
• spontaneity and playfulness
• natural- nothing forced
• free of negative feelings: anxiety, depression, anger
• free of inner and outer strugg1e
• feeling harmony and unity
• feeling loving and loved
• non-judgmental and accepting
• non-manipulative and non-coercive
• aesthetic and artistic
• feeling close to Spirit/God – the sense of holiness
• the recovery of the inner self

Some Activities That Embody Shabbat Consciousness:

• putting my organizer away for 24 hours
• practicing “God-fullness” or mindfulness, whatever one is doing
• family table rituals on Friday night
• worship and meditation, in community and alone
• hiking and spending time in nature
• spending time in solitude
• sacred study, such as the Torah portion of the week with commentaries
• reading poetry, spiritual sources, and inspired fiction
• experiencing quality time with family and friends
• phoning long-distance family and friends
• listening to music
• singing and dancing
• playing with children
• intimacy and lovemaking
• massage and hot tubs
• eating well
• sleeping
• going to museums
• viewing movies or videos that embody or reflect Shabbat consciousness
• sports
• havdalah

Some Problem Areas

The following activities have been traditionally forbidden on Shabbat: travel, telephoning, writing, computer use, attending secular events, using money, listening to radio, TV, stereos, cooking. But some of these might be enjoyed in the spirit of Shabbat if they are carried out in a way that preserves or deepens Shabbat consciousness. They require experimentation.

• Cars and public transportation: I walk, if possible. If I feel good about it, I will use my car or public transportation, but I try to stay within the bounds of Shabbat consciousness. No errands or shopping.
• Money: I use money only when I have to, and in the spirit of Shabbat.
• Telephoning and e-mailing: I make use of these for friendship and intimacy as much as I wish, but not for business.
• Writing: Letters to friends, inspired writing, poetry, spiritual insights, but not disciplined writing.
• Attending artistic events: Yes, if their theme is in consonance with Shabbat consciousness, and there will not be a lot of hassle getting there, parking and returning. I might purchase tickets in advance.
• Radio, TV, videos, stereos, recorded music: If I’m drawn to this, but the content needs to be in the Shabbat spirit.
• Cooking: If it is undertaken in the Shabbat spirit.
• Restaurants: Only where there is a quiet, relaxed atmosphere, and where there will be no hassle with parking.

Developing Your Own Guidelines

Answer the following questions after a period of meditation and/or prayer, when your heart is truly open to hearing the still small Voice within you.

If you are working on this with other members of your family or community, you might wish to meditate or pray together with them and then answer the questions by yourselves in silence. Then share what you have written with one another and find the areas of agreement.

What aspects of consciousness do you want to experience on Shabbat?

What characteristics of Shabbat consciousness would you like to make part of your Shabbat?

What activities would you like to engage in that embody Shabbat consciousness?