Sometimes I debate scheduling messages to post over Shabbat. I worry that I’m sending the wrong message about Shabbat, that I’m encouraging people to use the computer or to work on the holy day.
However, this blog isn’t for the talmid chacham (the person very wise in the life of Torah.) I like to have something scheduled to post for the person who is alone and lonely over Shabbat, and for the newcomer to Judaism who isn’t organized for Shabbat quite yet. Maybe Shabbat has been working on your heart to bring you to look for Jewish content during this time, or maybe you know it is Shabbat and you’re interested and don’t know what to do.
And of course, some of you will find it after Shabbat is over, and that’s fine too.
Feel free to browse around. I’ve got some messages marked “Especially for Beginners.” Or use the search box on the right to search for “beginners.” Just make yourself at home.
I hope that you have a blessed Shabbat, whatever that means for you right now, wherever you are in your own personal Jewish journey. You’re welcome here.
Shabbat Shalom!
Thank you, so very much, for this, Rabbi Ruth……for so many reasons. Know that you have helped me greatly by posting that. Big mitzvah.
With thanks
Alex
Shalom,
Would it not that proclaiming the Works of the Most High almighty Elohim would be considered as serving for Jehovah God? When working for the Divine Creator this should not be considered as a work as such, but as doing service for God and on the Sabbath it is a day for honouring God, so delivering speeches or texts about our Master Creator cannot be accounted as prohibited work for a day of rest.
The sabbath God requires sinful men to observe is to cease from the works of the flesh, as completely as He rested from the work of creation on the seventh day, that they may enter into the millennial rest that remaines for the people of God.
Heb 4:9-11 The Scriptures 1998+ (9) So there remains a Sabbath-keeping for the people of Elohim. (10) For the one, having entered into His rest, has himself also rested from his works, as Elohim rested from His own. (11) Let us therefore do our utmost to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.1 Footnote: 1See 3:18.
Christadelphian, you’re kind of losing me….not sure of the meaning of your comments?
We mean, any person proclaiming the Word of God on any day is doing the work for God. The laws of rest concern the works of the world, we working for our living or doing a job or doing some work where we can gain material or worldly goods.
When preaching or bringing other people in contact with God’s Word it is not for us to gain worldly matters, though it can bring us spiritual richness. It is showing to the world and to the Most High how we love God and how we are prepared to spend our days of our life with and for Him.
When you are writing an article for your blog about God or about how we should read the Torah or the Prophets it is not to be looked at doing a work, but offering yourself to God.
We should be aware that there are people on the Sabbath who feel alone or abandoned. We should be ready come to reach them and to react to their requests. Those who are lonely over Sabbat could read your writings you wrote on other days than the Sabbath, that is for sure, but sometimes there can have happened things or they need somebody to be in contact with on that Sabbath, so it can be a blessing for them to have some one responding to them on that day, having some one sitting on the computer somewhere in the world and reacting.
Naturally you could say, somewhere else in the world it can be already an other day, so we could leave the work to a person who is somewhere in an other reaching where it is not yet or where the Sabbath past already. This can make us even wonder more on what we can or may do on a certain day or night.
Though we think you should take the Law not according to the letter but according to the spirit and that way we wanted to let you feel better, showing you that it is all right to write on the Sabbath about matters of faith and to share them with others on a day you consider holy. We do not think you are desecrating that holy day, the Day of God, first of all we consider each day a Day of God and a day for God.
When preaching it is not something from and for your own selfishness, and therefore we think, with the above arguments, you could live with good feelings, having to do the important work of showing this godless world the Creator of everything.
Christadelphians, while I appreciate your enthusiasm, this blog is a Jewish blog. Many Jews eschew the use of technology on the Sabbath. I am clarifying why I choose to use it.
Rabbi Ruth,
Just to reiterate…..I really, really appreciate what you do. For a lot of reasons I use the Internet on Shabbat. And right now, Im in a very dark spot(the black oil slick trying to lap around my ankles and draw me in)and finding my way along my own personal Jewish path, and not being berated for what I don’t do, or do ( but some think I should….random example: ?I do not ( yet) keep kosher. I was a vegetarian for many years, as was my beloved husband, of blessed memory( he wasn’t Jewish, but I like writing that….it feels right, to me) but I do eat meat sometimes now…..and I would always choose free range over kosher if I were to buy a fresh chicken. But I digress…)
Thank you for helping me feel that it’s ok to be me. That’s something I’ve struggled with for as long as I can remember. A little kindness means a great deal, and ?I really appreciate your wisdom and kindness. The part I’ve quoted below is so comforting. Thank you.
With deep respect and affection, and wishing you good health and peace in this new secular year. Im glad you are part of my journey, and you help me.
Alex, Spock and Data
” However, this blog isn’t for the talmid chacham (the person very wise in the life of Torah.) I like to have something scheduled to post for the person who is alone and lonely over Shabbat, and for the newcomer to Judaism who isn’t organized for Shabbat quite yet. Maybe Shabbat has been working on your heart to bring you to look for Jewish content during this time, or maybe you know it is Shabbat and you’re interested and don’t know what to do.”