More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jewish People. – Ahad HaAm
These words were written a long time ago by one of the early Zionists. Ahad Ha’am, “One of the People” was born Asher Ginsberg in Kiev, in the Ukraine, in the 19th century. He became a prolific writer, active in the revival of Hebrew.
He is remembered as the founder of cultural Zionism, arguing that the Jewish homeland should be more than simply a nation of Jews. Rather it should be a Jewish state, incorporating Jewish values. He warned against the fantasy that Israel was an “empty land” and cautioned that it was important to take seriously relationships with Arabs living in the land.
I love the quote at the top of this page. It reminds me that I lose sight of Shabbat at my peril. Shabbat keeps the Jews, but it also keeps me.
What is your Shabbat observance? How did you decide on it? I look forward to your comments!
We light Shabbat candles…three of them, one for each my husband and me and one for my late twin brother.
We also do a wine blessing, sometimes a bread blessing and I always prepare a nice meal.
No computers after lighting the candles.