Hi everyone!
I hope you had a great weekend. I spent my weekend with my friend Rebecca at her friend’s family’s house in Efrat for Shabbat. Shabbat is a very unique order in Judaism. It requires someone to relax for an entire day. There are many restrictions, but the most fundamental is no use of electronics. I have celebrated Shabbat before, but this was my first time ever fully keeping Shabbat.
The family that we stayed with was such nice people. The parents immigrated to Israel in the mid 80’s and raised 6 children in Israel. The youngest child is Nuny, Rebecca’s friend.
On Friday Becca and I went for brunch in Jerusalem and then took a bus to Efrat. Jerusalem on a Friday before Shabbat is crazy. Everyone is running around the city getting ready for the holiday. Once Shabbat starts at sunset, the city is almost completely silent.
Friday night we went to synagogue and then headed back to the house for dinner. It was so good. The next day we didn’t go to synagogue and just hung out in the house talking and having fun.
A couple of my close friends from high school have become more religious this year in their year abroad in Israel, and it has been difficult for me to understand why they might do that. This Shabbat gave me a deeper understanding of what they are searchingfor in religion. The biggest most simple realization I had was that even though my friends have become much more religious, it doesn’t mean that they are different people. All of my friends are the same people but are happier with their lives because they have found something they feel passionate about.
It was the best Shabbat I have ever had. I have never been the type of Jew who connected to God and believed in Judaism. This Shabbat gave me a greater understanding of Judaism and why Shabbat is so important to take time to relax.
I hope you all have a great week!
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