Shabat, also spelled as Shabbat, is a Jewish day of rest that starts from sunset on Friday until nightfall on Saturday. The spelling of the word Shabat is represented by its phonetic transcription [ʃəˈbɑt]. The first syllable begins with the voiceless postalveolar fricative [ʃ] sound followed by the unstressed schwa [ə]. The second syllable starts with the voiced bilabial stop [b] sound, and the third syllable includes the stressed open back unrounded vowel [ɑ] followed by the voiceless alveolar stop [t] sound.
Shabat, also known as Shabbat or Sabbath, is a Hebrew term that refers to the seventh day of the Jewish week. It is observed as a day of rest and worship from Friday evening until Saturday night. Shabat holds significant religious and cultural importance in Judaism, with its practices rooted in the biblical account of the creation of the world.
According to Jewish tradition, Shabat is a time to commemorate God's rest after the six days of creation. It is observed by refraining from any form of work, including lighting or extinguishing fires, using electricity, and engaging in commerce. Instead, Shabat is dedicated to prayer, study of religious texts, spending time with family, and reflecting on one's faith.
The observance of Shabat typically begins on Friday evening with the lighting of candles and recitation of blessings. A festive meal, featuring traditional foods such as challah bread and wine, is shared with loved ones. Saturday is marked by communal worship in synagogues, where services are conducted and the Torah is read. After sunset, Havdalah ceremony concludes the Shabat, symbolically separating the holy day from the rest of the week.
Shabat is considered a time for spiritual rejuvenation and a reminder of the commandment to keep it holy. It is seen as an opportunity to detach from the demands of the outside world and focus on personal and communal growth. The observance of Shabat varies among Jewish communities, with different customs and interpretations, but it remains a central pillar of Jewish faith and identity.
The word "Shabat" is of Hebrew origin. Its origins can be traced back to the Hebrew Bible (also known as the Old Testament), specifically in the Book of Genesis. In Genesis 2:2-3, it is written:
"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done".
The Hebrew word for "rested" in this passage is "shavat" (שָׁבַת), which is the root word for "Shabat". In Hebrew, "Shabat" means "to cease", "to rest", or "to desist". It signifies the day of rest observed by Jews from Friday evening to Saturday evening.