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The meaning of Shabbat
The Shabbat is one of the best known and least understood of all Jewish observances. The Hebrew word Shabbat comes from the verb shavat, which literally means “to cease”. Although it is more often translated as “the day of rest”, a more literal translation would be “ceasing”, with the implication of “ceasing from work”. Thus, Shabbat is the day of ceasing from work; while resting is implied, it is not a necessary denotation of the word itself. Shabbat is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment. The word "Shabbat" comes from the root Shin-Beit-Tav, meaning to cease, to end, or to rest.Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is the only ritual observance instituted in the Ten Commandments. It is also the most important special day, even more important than Yom Kippur. This is clear from the fact that more aliyot (opportunities for congregants to be called up to the Torah) are given on Shabbat than on any other day.
Shabbat is not specifically a day of all prayer; it is mostly a day of rest and no work. Although we do spend a lot of time praying on Shabbat, praying isn’t what differentiates it from the other days of the week. Observant Jews pray everyday, actually. And to be exact, three times a day.
The observance of Shabbat is mentioned many times in the Tanach,( most notably as the fourth of the Ten Commandments. ). Other instances are Exodus 31:12-17 and 35:2-3, Leviticus 19:3 and 30, 23:3 and Numbers 28:9-10 (the sacrifices). It is referred to directly by the prophets Isaiah (56:4, 6) and Ezekiel (chapter: 20, 22, 23) and Nehemiah 9:14.
Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it (Hebrew: Zakhor et yom ha-Shabbat l'kad'sho) -Exodus 20:8
We are commanded to remember Shabbat; but remembering means much more than merely not forgetting to observe Shabbat. It also means to remember the significance of Shabbat, both as a commemoration of creation and as a commemoration of our freedom from slavery in Egypt.
In Exodus 20:11, after the Fourth Commandment is first instituted, God explains, "because for six days, the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and on the seventh day, he rested; therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it." By resting on the seventh day and sanctifying it, we remember and acknowledge that God is the creator of heaven and earth and all living things. We also emulate the divine example, by refraining from work on the seventh day, as God did. If God's work can be set aside for a day of rest, how can we believe that our own work is too important to set aside temporarily?
In Deuteronomy 5:15, while Moses reiterates the Ten Commandments, he notes the second thing that we must remember on Shabbat: "remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord, your God brought you forth from there with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your G-d commanded you to observe the Sabbath day." We must take this fact and apply it to the reason why Shabbat is celebrated as well as all the others reasons stated above.
