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The Work Week and Rest
How Shabbat Exemplifies the Divine Importance of Rest
Shabbat, which runs from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday, is the Jewish day of rest and spiritual rejuvenation, and it has a profound connection to the modern work week. Shabbat is upheld as a central interval to regularly disconnect from work, mandating rest and meaningful social time with extended family and loved ones as the basis to a meaningful, well-lived life.
Shabbat provides a structured break in the week, typically beginning at sunset on Friday and ending at nightfall on Saturday. This delineation of time mirrors the modern work week’s structure, which often starts on Monday and ends on Friday evening.
Shabbat emphasizes the importance of work-life balance by designating a day for rest, reflection, and spending time with family and community. In the modern work week, where work can often spill over into evenings and weekends, Shabbat helps us to prioritize and keep sacred and sanctified our personal and spiritual well-being. It reminds us that there is a time for work, and there is a time for rest and community and family connection.
