Shabbat
Judaism's weekly day of rest and spiritual contemplation.
Shabbat, Judaism’s day of rest, is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday until three stars appear in the sky on Saturday night. The word derives from the Hebrew root meaning “ceasing [from work],” a concept consistent with the Genesis account of an omnipotent God ceasing from creation on the seventh day. Religious Jews mark the day by refraining from work and engaging in restful activities, recalling both the six-day creation of heaven and earth and the redemption from slavery in Egypt. The day is ushered in with candle lighting and blessings over wine and bread. Three festive meals are traditionally held: Friday evening, a Saturday lunch, and a late Saturday afternoon meal. The first two meals begin with a *kiddush* (sanctification) over wine; the third meal omits *kiddush* but includes the *hamotzi* blessing over challah bread. This final meal is often eaten after afternoon prayers and shortly before Shabbat ends with the *Havdalah* ritual, which uses wine, aromatic spices, and a special candle to separate the holy day from the rest of the week. Shabbat is a festive day for spiritual contemplation and family time. The first non-Biblical reference to the Sabbath appears on an ostracon from around 630 BCE. Scholars have proposed connections to an Akkadian word *šapattu* referring to the full moon, or to Assyrian “evil days” spaced seven days apart, but these theories are challenged by differences in meaning and calendar structure. The Egyptian origin theory has been abandoned. The Hebrew Bible commands the Sabbath in Genesis, Exodus (including the Ten Commandments), and appears 111 times across the Tanakh. The longstanding Jewish position holds that the unbroken seventh-day Shabbat originated among the Jewish people as their first and most sacred institution.
- field
- Religious observance
- known_for
- Day of rest and cessation from work; commemorates creation and the Exodus
- observed_by
- Jews worldwide
- day_of_week
- Saturday (seventh day)
- duration
- From Friday sunset to Saturday night (three stars appear)
Lore & Background
Shabbat observance entails refraining from work activities and engaging in restful activities to honor the day. According to halakha, it begins a few minutes before sunset on Friday and ends when three stars appear in the sky on Saturday night. It is ushered in by lighting candles and reciting blessings over wine and bread. Three festive meals are traditionally eaten: Friday evening, Saturday lunch, and Saturday afternoon. The evening and early afternoon meals begin with a kiddush blessing over wine; the third meal includes the hamotzi blessing and challah bread but no kiddush. The end of Shabbat is marked by the Havdalah ritual, with blessings over wine, aromatic spices, and candle lighting.
Reader's Guide
Shabbat is Judaism's weekly day of rest, observed from shortly before sunset on Friday until nightfall on Saturday, when three stars appear in the sky. Its observance involves refraining from work and engaging in restful activities to honor the day. The word derives from a Hebrew root meaning "ceasing from work," rather than simply resting. Three festive meals are central to Shabbat: Friday evening, Saturday lunch, and a late Saturday afternoon meal. The first two meals begin with a blessing over wine called kiddush, while the third meal features the hamotzi blessing over challah bread but no kiddush. Shabbat is ushered in with candle lighting and blessings over wine and bread, and concludes with the Havdalah ritual, involving blessings over wine, aromatic spices, and a candle. The day is seen as a celebration of freedom from everyday labor, offering time for family and spiritual contemplation. In the Hebrew Bible, Shabbat appears 111 times across 89 verses, including in the Ten Commandments. It is first commanded after the Exodus, in connection with the cessation of manna. Twice as many animal sacrifices were offered on Shabbat compared to weekdays. The first non-biblical reference to the Sabbath is found on an ostracon from around 630 BCE. While some scholars have linked Shabbat to an Akkadian word for the full moon or to an Assyrian calendar of "evil days" with periodic prohibitions, these theories face challenges, and the Egyptian origin has been abandoned. The longstanding Jewish position holds that the unbroken seventh-day Shabbat originated among the Jewish people as their first and most sacred institution.
Did You Know?
- Shabbat begins in the evening of what on the civil calendar is Friday, because the Jewish religious calendar counts days from sunset to sunset.
- The word Shabbat derives from the Hebrew root ש־ב־ת, meaning 'ceasing [from work]' rather than simply 'rest'.
- Twice as many animal sacrifices were offered on Shabbat in the Temple compared to the daily offering of the other six days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shabbat?
Shabbat is Judaism's sacred weekly day of rest, falling on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). It is a time of cessation from labor dedicated to spiritual reflection, prayer, and community, and is regarded as the faith's oldest and most central institution.
When does Shabbat begin and end?
It starts a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening and concludes once three stars are visible in the sky on Saturday night. The exact timing shifts depending on geographic location and time of year.
What does Shabbat commemorate?
It honors two foundational events in Jewish tradition: God's rest on the seventh day of creation and the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Both themes of divine rest and human freedom are woven into the holiday's meaning.
Why is Shabbat considered so important in Judaism?
It is viewed as the first sacred institution established in the Torah, predating many other commandments. Observing it is understood as a weekly renewal of the covenant between God and the Jewish people, making it central to Jewish identity.
Who observes Shabbat and where?
Jews around the world observe Shabbat regardless of denomination, culture, or geographic location. It remains the one weekly practice shared across all branches of Judaism, from Orthodox to Reform.
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