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Why is the Sabbath central to Jewish religious life?
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Judaism
The Western Wall, in the Old City of Jerusalem, all that remains of the retaining wall surrounding the Temple Mount.
The Sabbath, or Shabbat, is central to Jewish religious life as a fundamental expression of the covenant between God and the Jewish people. Observed weekly from Friday sunset to Saturday nightfall, it commemorates God’s rest following the creation of the world.123
Its significance is rooted in several key principles:
- Divine Commandment: It is the only holiday explicitly enjoined by the Ten Commandments, making its observance a core religious obligation.4
- Spiritual and Intellectual Renewal: By mandating an abstention from work, the Sabbath provides dedicated time for worship, study of the Torah, and spiritual regeneration.45
- Communal Unity: Throughout history, the Sabbath has served as a unifying force, acting as a joyous reminder of the Jewish identity and their relationship with the divine.12
The tradition emphasizes that the Sabbath is a gift to humanity, with the Talmud teaching that laws may be suspended to preserve life or health, as "the Sabbath was given to man, not man to the Sabbath".2