keep shabbat

I want to keep Shabbat, the only excuse I have to make is that we will be driving 53 miles just to go to shul. Other than that bit of work I will be trying my hardest to observe this holy time as best as I can.

I think the hardest part will be not using the phone or getting take-out… oh, or maybe not shopping. Oh well, it will be for the best!

Shalom!

For the first time in months, I am going to break Shabbat this week due to a seminar… but I’ll schedule a day next week to take Shabbat instead so I still have my day of rest for the week.

As I’ve been working more and more, this is becoming more and more important. I’ve been pretty good with it, just making sure not to schedule anything on Shabbat except leisure time with myself, family and friends. I did a closing last Shabbat because that was the only day everyone else could do it, but that’s the last one, and I rested the rest of the day with Keren and the family. Best day ever, Shabbat, love it.

Now I really get why there are all those crazy rules for Shabbat. Even though I don’t do any “work” work, I am still running around and doing “fun” work, which isn’t really the same as resting. If I made a commitment to not answer my phone, watch television, cook, or use transportation, it would be a special day indeed.

Yesterday I rested most of the day, but went grocery shopping, went across town to watch the basketball game at the Gin Mill, and then went to the gym and played basketball. I also talked on the phone a lot. The only thing I did differently was not answer a couple of work calls. I will consider making a deeper commitment to the way I observe Shabbat or not.

Today I was conscious most of the time not to do any work. I answered 1 business phone call by accident, and pretty much did the same things I would do on a normal day. Oh yeah, I didn’t light candles last night. But I really rested good for the most part, and didn’t watch any TV. I’ll have to refine what this means a little more next week.

My whole life, I have wanted to observe this awesome tradition of taking one day a week to be with myself, loved ones, and God. Too often I let it slip by and let the concerns of my business fill every day of the week.

From today forth, I will observe the Sabbath and keep it holy, which to me will mean refraining from any work from sundown on Friday until Sunday morning. I will also light candles on Friday evening as a gesture of remembering and observing a holy day of rest.

I really have gotten to where I don’t work on shabbat, and rarely shop. I do, though, drive to services, and services (which I”m doing more and more regularly) really do enhance the day, and the rest of my life, so I think it’s worth the tradeoff. C’est la vie, ntil I live in a neighborhood where I can walk.

I’ve been keeping it for about 7 years (since 2000). DEFINATELY worth doing. I started fairly slowly and then ramped up.
Always nice to have a block of time that is “tech free”: no phones, computers, etc.

For now, all I intend to do in terms of keeping Shabbat is sitting down to a nice, well-planned dinner with my husband and saying the blessings. I have been doing this every week, so for now I am content that I have completed this goal.

Tonight I went whole hog (not literally, that wouldn’t be kosher) on setting up a nice Shabbat dinner, my first time doing so in the new apartment. Got the candles and wine and challah and everything, and cooked up some lovely salmon. Problem is, now that we’re on the west coast, DH’s World of Warcraft raids start at 6 rather than at 9 because of the time difference. And that interferes with Shabbat dinner. We’re going to need to figure out a compromise…