You may do work during the six weekdays, but Shabbat is a sacred holyday to G-d, when you shall do no work. Wherever you may live, it is G-d's Shabbat." Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:3 And because I keep Shabbat wherever I am, I am full of strength and joy for the coming week. Shavua tov le'kulam!

Ynet and Levi - Thank you :-)

The rabbi is correct in his assumption except that the religious jews think,want and attempt to force the secular to spend the day of rest praying.We the secular enjoy shabbat by enjoying ourselves with trips,opem fireplaces for steak ,visiting friends and experiencing pleasure. This rabbi does not want the majority of the people happy.

I love Shabbat. This article is another classic boring tale of one "rabbi" selectively choosing facts and stories to prove his way of thinking had better be ours. I love Shabbat, and you may believe that there is only one religious, but knowing all is beyond you. I love Shabbat, but don't tell others that your shabbat is the only way to observe Shabbat.

thing to have a day where I have no expectations of work, no expectations of cooking, no expectations of "performing." Living in America, it is easy to see people killing themselves with work seven days a weeks and never having a life. Israel is a Jewish state and it seems perfectly reasonable to shut down the bus lines and El Al and most other businesses as if they did not, then only secular people could be hired and that is unreasonable to the people who obey G-d. Keeping Shabbat is a joy and unffortunately some Jews are unable to understand that, so sad for them.

I do not know about you but I did not get from this article that the only way to celebrate Shabbat is the religious way. I got from it that Shabbat should be a break from our regular work week, a chance to reset our clocks so to speak. Drop your guard Colin, I am sure we call can learn a lot from each other.

want shabat, you can't force someone to want something.

kick back with the kids and not be distracted by the telephone, by that niggling feeling that I could throw another load of laundry in right now, that I could be getting some more work done at the computer, that I forgot to run out and buy whatever..... It's all not even a blip on my radar. Irrelevant. No phone. No car. No computer. No shopping. Just me and my family & friends. We eat together (all of that cooking was done YESTERDAY). We read together. We laugh..... (yeah, somewhere in the middle of all of that good stuff we do thank G-d for it all). We have a beautiful Shabbat. Here I am on the computer again, checking on my week-day worries to see if anything Earth-shattering has happened in the News. Nope. It spins on even without me for a day....shavua tov, everyone.

Thanks but thats my decision what i do on a saturday and not some religious nutter forcing his beliefs on the general population. You can not force people to live their lives based on a religious belief that is meaninless to others. Freedom and democracy rules !

It's incompetent to fail to adhere to primary meaning of Shabbat: the b'rit between ha-Sheim and Israel (Shemot 31.16-17). Otherwise, the goyim are right; any day they prefer works just as well. Paqid Yirmeyahu The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Torah Jew (Orthodox Teimani Baladi Dardai) Advancing Logic as Halakhic Authority Welcoming Jews & non-Jews www.netzarim.co.il

In a survey of Jewish demographics long ago, I noted that the Jews, as a percentage of world population, reached their peak during the Roman Empire before the destructions. There was much that was different about this strange people and their customs. But one practice that resonated broadly was the institution of one rest day in seven. Think about it. The wealthy were a leisure class, while the masses and slaves worked every day, excepting the occasional pagan holiday. The Jews showed that all were entitled - indeed obligated - to take that day of rest and invest it with spiritual significance.

I think the problem between orthodox observers of the Sabbath and others is in the definition of “work”. Perhaps it would be best to translate the Hebrew word used in the Torah to ‘labor” meaning actions normally used to earn a living. The Torah does not give any details as to what constitutes “work”. The definition of “work” was made by Rabbis, long before the Industrial Revolution, as the activities need to build the holy temple. What I believe is urgently needed is an update as to what “work” or “labor” is, taking into consideration of life in the 21st century, and what is “rest”. Each individual has his or her own what constitutes rest for them. The use of electricity, transportation, and may other issues need to be reviewed so that all can truly enjoy the day of rest.

#10 Avi - you didn't realise that the article is explaining that Shabbat = freedom! Freedom from the demands of the world around us... #14 Norman - whilst your view is very interesting, there are a number of sfarim written on the subject of Shabbat and Electricity; the views in these books vary on why electricity is not allowed. However, I can think of nothing better than avoiding transport of any kind on shabbat. Imagine, no negotiating traffic and getting frustrated and angered by the maniacs on the road; no waiting an hour for the next bus to come along; and most importantly, reducing your carbon footprint. Imagine: if every Jew decided to only walk on Shabbat, there would be a dramatic reduction in carbon emissions!! Perhaps non-Jews should pick one day a week to do the same and we can all contribute to the environment....