Why is Shabbat connected with the story of Creation?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Circular diagram of the Jewish religious year showing Hebrew months around the outer ring and Gregorian months inside, with major holidays and fasts such as Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Passover, and Purim labeled with their dates. — Jewish religious year The months and holidays of the Jewish religious year.

Shabbat is fundamentally connected to the story of Creation because it commemorates the seventh day on which God rested after completing the work of creating the universe, as described in Genesis.12

By observing this weekly day of rest from sunset on Friday to nightfall on Saturday, Jews participate in the principle of imitatio Dei, or the "imitation of God". Just as God ceased his creative activity to rest, humans are commanded to abstain from work, thereby crowning the epic of creation with a day of holiness. This practice serves as a joyous reminder of the covenant between God and the Jewish people, linking the divine act of creation to the rhythm of human life.314