Shabbatot

Shabbatot is the Hebrew plural form of Shabbat, meaning Sabbaths. It is used to refer to Sabbaths in general and, in various contexts, to the Sabbaths observed throughout the Jewish calendar, including the weekly Shabbat and several specially named Sabbaths that recur during the year. The term Shabbat originates from the biblical commandment to rest on the seventh day, a day set apart for worship, study, and repose, commemorating both the creation of the world and the Exodus from Egypt.

Observance typically begins Friday at sunset, with candle lighting preceding the onset of Shabbat in many communities. The evening service, the Friday night meal with bread (challah) and wine (Kiddush), and the morning and afternoon services on Saturday form the core of the observance. Shabbat lasts until nightfall on Saturday when three stars are visible, and is concluded with Havdalah, a ceremony that marks the separation between sacred time and ordinary time. Traditional law prohibits a range of activities known as melachot, with exceptions for life-preserving needs or other permitted cases.

In the Jewish calendar, Shabbatot can refer to the weekly Sabbath as well as to other Sabbaths named for their Torah portions or liturgical themes. Notable Shabbatot include Shabbat Shuva (the Sabbath of Return between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), Shabbat HaGadol (the Great Sabbath before Passover), Shabbat Nachamu (the Sabbath of Comfort after Tisha B’Av), and Shabbat Shirah (the Sabbath of Song). Practices and customs vary by community and tradition, but the central idea is a day set apart for rest, prayer, and family.