Clinging to Shabbat
I just spent the most incredible Shabbat in Detroit, Michigan. 250 teens spent Shabbat in the Young Israel of Oak Park. After the shabbaton I reflected on what made this event so amazing and I believe the most impressive part of the weekend was being with 250 teens spending 2 hours to make Havdalah. In most Jewish homes Havdalah takes no more than 30 seconds and then it’s off to the races! Everyone showers and runs away from Shabbat as fast as they can- but not in NCSY. IN NCSY, NO ONE wants Shabbat to end and this is truly a reflection of what Olam Habah must be like; straight Kedusha while surrounded by your friends and loved ones. We need to strive to make our homes into mini Shabbatons and teach our children to dread the end of Shabbat. Kids need to learn to cling to shabbat like…… Game Boy.
My family and I are gentiles from Papua New Guinea. After understanding biblical truths about shabbat and the feasts, our church started observing weekly shabbats and all 7 biblicals feasts. I must say it has been good for us as a family. The children look forward to candle lighting and lovely meals on Fridays evenings and again for havdalah passing the spice box around with lovely smell. Yes, we are with you all.
Posted by Ngayamo Antonio on 11/17 at 01:18 AMHey Rabbi Burg, its Kaley Ames from Vancouver (currently hailing from Beit Shemesh Israel at Machon Maayan!). Im really feeling you on the point your making about clinging to shabbos. I just spent shabbos at Rabbi Goldfischers, and just as we were about to make havdallah he said something along the lines of “im so depressed. shabbos is almost over.” it needs to ingrained in our minds as a conscious thought, that shabbos is meant to be yearned for, missed and appreciated. it has taken me 18 years to realize this, and i hope that when im older with my own family and household that i still yearn, miss and appreciate shabbos with the same intensity i do now.
Thank you so much for all you do. I miss the old NCSY days of West Coast. Are you coming to Israel anytime soon? WE MISS YOU!
-Kaley M. Ames.Posted by Kaley M. Ames on 11/19 at 09:33 AM-
Posted by Ram on 12/14 at 03:11 PMI am not Jewish by birth and I used to go to church but since learning some Hebrew and studying the Torah I feel quite embarrassed that we, gentiles, have tried to interpret the Scriptures our way and not gone to a Rabbi to seek the correct teaching. I no longer attend church and instead I keep the festivals and shabbat (not so easy to keep in a pagan land, but i do my best!). Some of my friends are in Israel this week for Sukkot. I managed to put up a canapy outside but it is soooo cold i haven’t managed to sleep outside underneath it yet. How do you celebrate Sukkot in cold countries? Does anyone know?
Posted by celia on 09/27 at 01:51 PM
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