Shabes

Shabes, also spelled Shabbos, is the Jewish Sabbath, a weekly day of rest and spiritual renewal observed from Friday evening to Saturday night. The term is Yiddish for Shabbat, which derives from Hebrew Shabbat, meaning rest or cessation.

The day begins with candle lighting on Friday evening, typically performed by a woman of the household, signaling the transition from weekday to holy time. Shabes ends with Havdalah after nightfall on Saturday, a ceremony that distinctively marks the separation between the sacred and the ordinary, using wine, spices, and a braided candle.

Common observances during Shabes include refraining from work as defined by Rabbinic law, and engaging in prayer, study, and family meals. Friday night is marked by the Kabbalat Shabbat prayers and Ma’ariv, followed by a festive Friday dinner. Saturday features the Shabbat morning service, which often includes a Torah reading, and a second festive meal. In many communities, a special Kiddush blessing is recited over wine on Friday night and again on Saturday.

Practices and restrictions vary by tradition and locale. Orthodox communities tend to observe the prohibitions on labor and electrical use more strictly, while Conservative and Reform communities interpret the rules with greater flexibility, emphasizing rest, study, and communal or family life. In Israel, Shabes shapes public life, with many businesses closed or limited and public transportation reduced on Saturdays. In all, Shabes functions as a weekly pause that reinforces family, ritual, memory, and communal identity.

Shabes is both a religious obligation and a cultural rhythm, influencing cuisine, hospitality, music, and daily schedules across Jewish communities.