Shabbat

  

A siren sounds to announce the beginning of Shabbat (Sabbath). Though a few cars and pedestrians still create a little activity, for the most part the streets are quiet. Most shops and restaurants, other than a few non-Kosher ones, are closed. It is time for family, religious observance, and rest.

The three pictures above contrast Ben Yehuda Street. From left to right: Shabbat, a normal day, and a festival day (in this case, a day to celebrate plants and flowers).

Although it is strange for almost everything to be closed, and inconvenient if you need something from the store, I like the concept of Shabbat as it is observed here. In America, a day off is a day to mow the lawn, go grocery shopping, take the kids to a ballgame, etc. etc. It is a "rush here, rush there" mentality. For some of us, a mild guilt trip takes over if we are not stressed to the max. Here, for the observant, Shabbat is much more than simply a "day off."

Shabbat is a restful intermission. As Christians, we should live in spiritual rest. It is not God's design that we live weighed down with mental and physical stress and chronic anxiety. Although it seems to take a lot of storms for most of us to realize the advantages of trusting God, His design is that we are peaceful and at rest inside, despite the wind and waves swirling around us.