The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time

Rather than sedentary relaxation, Shabbos calls for maximum alertness and focused awareness. This is the time to ponder what really matters in one’s life and how to increase the scope and clarity of one’s vision.

Shabbos is a time of genuine availability to ourselves and others, a shelter of compassionate spirit. Yet here too we must not place the pragmatic motivation first and foremost. As a spiritual practice, we should think of Shabbos as a gift from God to us and an offering from ourselves to God. Overemphasis on utilitarian considerations tends to unde