Patrick is absolutely right!!! It's impossible to get anything done with things the way they are. Friday morning is nothing but stress. I work in high tech and I work long hours - I don't get a chance to do squat during the week.

I appreciate that this topic has been broached and a discussion begun, even if I may be in a different place than Amos Oz. Without discussion there's no thinking. I hope there will be openness to thinking and real give-and-take. If the Shabbat is not based on the Torah then it has no absolute source. According to the Torah we "rest" on Shabbat because "G-d rested". That was His ( His does not imply that G-d is a male) desire and by His design. that means that Shabbat was basically a gift given to the world. A day of rest. One can choose to use one's day of rest for different purposes. If one uses it to shop ..if one uses it to write term papers...or to work and make extra money...to go visit the beach...to listen to rock music at a night club...then one has to ask: is this why the Shabbat was given to me? Isn't it worthwhile to ask the question: why is there a concept of Shabbat in the world? No one will ever stand next to you with a gun and say "Keep Shabbat or give up your life". It won't happen , even if there's a religious or right-wing gov't in the State of Israel. Despite our paranoia. So, it's your choice what to do with your Shabbat. Each and every one has that choice. Choose wisely.

It's the same problem in the whole world . When i worked , 5 days a week , i could'nt do anything without taking some hours from my work . You work in Hi Tec , have'nt you "flexible" hours ? my daughter has . And if everyone takes a day off on sunday , what then ? could you go to the bank if their clercks also want a day off ? You want Sundays off , but want others to work for you this day . Are'nt they also entitled to this day ?

We have already the Friday afternoon where everything is closed . You propose to do shopping on Sunday , fine . But what if the people in those shops also want this day off ?

What has he been smoking today? Shabbat was a gift from G-d to the Jewish people. Whether you are secular or religious one cannot deny that the idea of a day ofspiritual rejuvenation originated in the Torah and was meant for the Jewish people. The fact that secular liberals are trying to hijack the idea is nauseating!

I have been embarassed by Mr. Oz. He seems a not bad artist, but a poor thinker! Alas! Some educated Israelis compared him to Tolstoi and Chekhov. Though, there is the only one Tolstoi, and he is a Russian, from "swine-eaters". Moreover, I found "War and Peace" much more wisdom and valuable book that the ancient tales of Tora. May I think this way, Mr. Oz? I still wouldn't like to ask a permission from Mrs. Rivkah #2. Among them, there a really good translation of "War and Peace" has been issued in New York recently by a Russian/American couple of translators. Dear Rivkah #2, believe me, there are some more worth books in this world but not only Tora! Sincerely yours!

We already work too long hours in this country, 4 1/2 days would just bring us in to line with the rest of the civilised world. I grew up in the UK, lots of places are closed on Sunday (all banks, post offices etc) but Saturday is a full shopping day. No rushing, no pressure... just get your stuff done, you've got all day to do it. Sure it means people have to work that day while the most of us are off... but they get their other day off midweek; it works out.

from many of the talk backs is they feel they are completely free to do whatever they want. So my friends (that includes Talula), you should know-'against your will were you born, and even if you don't want to-you WILL die(not very liberal is it? what can i do)-and even if you don't want to- you WILL have to give reckoning of your deeds to your Creator. He gave you your soul. He gave you your life. And He gave you the 'manual' (torah) of how to live your life in a manner that will guarantee you goodness.

Since you are so hep on observing Shabbat, suggest you make aliyah and move in with your friends the herediim. You can always copy their actions on Shabbat and throw rocks at buses. That seems to be pretty popular in Israel.

No Israel will not destroy itself by working on Shabbat. Israel will destroy herself by accepting the religious hypocrisy and doublespeak as if it written in the Torah by Moses. We keep reading just how the religious refuse to serve, refuse to support themselves, demand more for doing nothing and yet expect their families to be supported by those who do work. I do suggest that you observe Shabbat as see fit. I also suggest that you mind your own business and not attempt to force anyone else to do as you see fit.

I do my shopping on Sunday as the malls and grocery stores are open. Not only that, but almost everything is open on Sunday. Of course there are some exceptions, but the vast majority of business establishments are open. I would think that the stores in Israel will wish to stay open, as more people will be available to shop. I could hardly think of a store that would wish to pass up all that potential income. Therefore, I would suggest keep Shabbat as a mandatory day of rest. But give people the choice whether or not they want to work on Sunday. Your thoughts?

One Torah?? How many languages has the Torah been translated into? How many versions have our sages presented over the centuries? Why is it that there exist today so many Ultra-Orthodox sects each defining the Torah as they deem the one and only correct Toah? You wish for your own choice to observe/celebrate Shabbat. Who is preventing that? No matter what Mr.Oz or anybody else writes, you have the final say-so for yourself. The religious will observe as they see fit; rightfully. The secular will observe as it suits them; rightfully. The problem always arises when one group decides it has the right to dictate to the other what they should do. Isn't it strange; the secular never try to tell the religious how they should observe Judaism.; while the religious always seem to want to tell the secular what is right for them. When the religious adopt the credo, LIVE AND LET LIVE, the world will be a much happier place to live in.

Why berate Albert? Albert believes, so be it. Nothing guarantees goodness, nothing guarantees evil. Humanity decides her own fate. Just as there are evil in the secular, the same exists to the same degree in the religious. Oh yes, Albert in his tirade guaranteed that Talula will die whether she wants to or not, he neglected to mention the same fate awaits him and as a matter of fact, awaits us all. What happens after death? I haven't a clue. I have never met anyone who has come back from the dead and spoke. What is said in the variety of bibles out there is meaningless since what is written was written by living man who may have an imagination, but no facts. Charlie, it only hurts for a little while to be nice. Soo, be nice.

But in Canada stores are open on Saturday not ? Where i lived most Jewish shops were also closed for Shabbat , open on Sunday . But there was NOTHING mandatory exept that every shopowner has to close for one day . Most shops , the non Jewish , were closed on Sunday , you can't buy clothes or furniture on Sunday .

When a person says : you think you are free .....he is a mistake , and the way he writes it is a mistake too .. But you are right , no one has never met someone who returned from "heaven" or from "hell" . When you say that what is written in the different bibles is meaningless , how can you believe ? Thank you for your last sentence , i don't need lessons in moral .

i beg to differ.

I know i will die. I have also studies risk management. So let me give you some advice [1] If for arguments sake i'm right in believing The risk of living a life not according to the Torah- is no portion in the world to come=eternal. Not doing the Almighty your Creators will.I am risking eternity. [2] If for arguments sake i'm wrong in believing. The risk is- i have had faith in something i shouldn't have and therefore missed out on driving on shabbat etc. Surely it makes more sense to go with the second product.

A story teller eager to be on the news -keeps releasing bombastic statements. The last elections prove that these fake dogooders are a very small minority. Unfortunately loud and often patted by the media

The best article I have ever read in recent times. Its time that the Israeli population wake up and accept the importance and holiness of Shabbat.

b"H #9 is right, and we must take this seriously. If we want Gilad Shalit freed, if we want to put the pope in his place, if we want peace, we - klal Yisrael - must keep Shabbat as quoted in Shacharit, the reminder of our Brit with HaShem. There is no risk, no violence, no big money involved. Our road map, our Derekh is Derekh Eretz=Shabbat Shalom. That's why we say it that way. If we don't all keep Shabbat, there will never be Shalom. There is no risk, there is nothing to lose and everything to gain. We are free to accept this offer. We are crazy if we don't take it. More than that, we are at least indirectly responsible for the terrorism that ensues until we wake up and do this - keep Shabbat - a very wonderful experience.