Shabat

Shabbat, also spelled Shabbat or Shabbos, is the Jewish day of rest and spiritual renewal. It lasts from sunset on Friday to nightfall on Saturday, though the exact end is defined differently in some communities (often when three stars appear). The term comes from the Hebrew shavat, meaning to cease or rest.

The Shabbat observance is rooted in the Biblical creation narrative and the enumeration of the Ten Commandments. It is commanded in Exodus 20:8–11 and Deuteronomy 5:12–15 as a sacred time to cease ordinary work and to devote the day to worship, study, and family.

In traditional Jewish law, Shabbat restricts creative work, summarized as 39 categories of melakhot. Preparations are made in advance; work is paused from Friday evening through Saturday afternoon. Common practices include lighting candles before sunset on Friday, reciting Kiddush over wine, and sharing festive meals that include challah bread. The Friday night service often features songs and, on many communities, the Shabbat blessing over the family and the reading of the week’s Torah portion on Saturday morning. Havdalah marks the return to ordinary time at nightfall on Saturday, using a candle, spice box, and wine.

Shabbat observance varies by denomination and community. Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and other streams interpret restrictions and liturgical practices differently, including how modern life such as electricity or driving is accommodated. Across communities, Shabbat remains a central weekly occasion for rest, prayer, study, and family time.