Group Discussion on the Topic of the Sabbath.

[Xander67]

The Sabbath,

1. What is it?
2. When is it?
3. Wow do you honnor it?

those are the questions I think that could define what is "on topic" or "off topic " for this one...

:flowers: Your instructions are ...Look guys, im Teaching

Just think about them and write in your journal your answers... They may be in Essay Form, or any other form you may Desire depending on the answers you come up with.

they may be posted in your journal, here, or both..

I will post mine ..

[Xander67]

What is it?

it is a day of rest , a mandatory day of rest in which we are to unwind.

In the Bible it says 6 days of work and 1 to rest...

I dont know about you, but after working from Monday to Friday, 8:30-5 .. I really look forward to my friday night.

I can now Appreciate that takeing the time out to relax and rejuvinate my spirit is not only HEALTHY but it is Good for the Soul.

When do I Honnor it?

well, I havent came accross any Scripture, or Scroll that mentions a specific day in the Commandment... but I am aware of the fact that different cultures honnor on different days..

Today with most of society being structured around a M-F work week, Saturday and Sunday are the Day of choice. I dunno, Friday nights are my creative night, and the night when i like to go to a show, or seek entertainment after a long work week. then Saturday's Im usually out in the yard, working in my Garden, so I guess you can say I am "working" yet gardening is a good way of connecting with the Goddess...

and sundays, generally Laundry, goofing off,

So I would say most likely, Saturday for me :)

How do I honnor it? ** Points Upward**

[Morr]

Xander.. youre teaching a class?
since when? Do you want your own subforum? Whats the class about... reply here or PM me :)

[Xander67]

well, I would love to teach a class :) however, I think this would be a good group discussion, I was out in my yard this afternoon, and I was thinking about what I had posted here, and it just was an enjoyable afternoon ...

working m-f, I dont think I could keep a class going, ... but one day perhaps after I get used to the new M-f structured schedule, it is a complete change from the past year, (going to school, and working part time at cvs) but a change for the better :)

[Romani Vixen]

the Sabbath is something that I paid attention to when I was christian. As I was raised SDA, it's sundown fri to sundown sat. Then we would try and only do religous things. The most secular that we got was taking a shower.. didn't think much about god then. But otherwise, it was a day of 'rest' but really focus.

Now I only observe Sabbats and Esbats.

[bluglass]

The Sabbath,

1. What is it?
2. When is it?
3. Wow do you honnor it?


In my tradition, the world was created in 6 days and on the 7th day the great spirit rested. The old testament (which is the sacred text for Jews) says that it was evening and morning and that defines a day. So as Sabbath would start at sundown and last for 24 hours. Modern interpretation makes it fall from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.

It is honored by ceasing all work. It is a meditative, comtemplative time. It is started by candle lighting, blessings over wine and bread as well as thanking G-d for helping and sustaining you to reach that moment. There is ritual handwashing (which is actually done at every meal by the observant). Everyone wears special clothes and you use your best ritual objects for setting the table. While one can use common objects to fulfill the requirements there is a special honor attached to the use of beautifil and well crafted objects (as well as in the making of them and by those who make them).

Preparations inlcude the making of special bread and holiday foods. Since no fire is lit enough is make for left overs. This would be presented on a special platter and cut with a special ritual bread knife.

An observant man and woman age 13 and older might also go to the ritual bath or if you live near running water that flows (eventually) to a sea or ocean you can dunk in that (there is a an entire ritual for that as well).

Interestingly, though probably not suprising to many here, the Sabbath Queen is welcomed into the home at this time.

A Jew would use the term mitzvah which is a high form a doing a good deed of a religious nature. By the same token healing and caring for the sick, giving charity unselfconsciously, saving someone's life are also mitzvot (plural). Carrying out the 613 law is the ultimate goal. Men are commanded specifically to try and carry them out. Women are not actually forbidden but rather are exempt because they have the high honor of running the house and brearing and raising the family and should not have to be burdened. It is really tradition and cultur that dictate what is considered appropriate for women to do or not do.

The is currently strong movement for women to again participate in the ritual of wearing headcovering and prayer shawls which you might wear on Friday night. I am currently making my own and in deciding how big I said I wanted to be able to wrap it around myself and my children when I blessed them so that determined the size.

At the end of the Sabbath there is a different ritual. The lighting of a braided candle as well as the use of aromatic spices are used to usher out the Sabbath.

Depending on the time of year and where you live in the world there might be time for a movie, or date, or movie, or going out with or to friends, etc.-- all depending on your level of observance.

Please understand that this is just my very simple, on the fly thoughts from my level of understanding and observance.

Blue

[Xander67]

Please understand that this is just my very simple, on the fly thoughts from my level of understanding and observance.

Blue

that was my intentions with this discussion ... :spinner: