The Sabbath (Abraham Heschel) Notes

Note: These notes are not complete yet.

Introduction

Daughter's experience of Sabbath:

• Writing is forbidden on the Sabbath.
• Sabbath was Nostalgic experience, at least partly.
• (Traditional) Sabbath Service - All in Hebrew - Men and Women divided.
• Informal Lunch - joking, lighthearted
• Weekly nap

• Siddur - Jewish prayer book
• Havdalah - prayer that concludes the Sabbath
• Book "The Sabbath" originally published in 1951. Abraham Heschel couldn't speak English that well. This was at a time when Jewishness was embarrassing and Jews were assimilating.
• According to Abraham, the Sabbath is a means of keeping civilization and inner liberty from the material world.
• Holiness of Sabbath preceeded the holiness of Israel.
• Sabbath renews the Soul.
• Avoid work: No lighting fires, politics, war-talk, Holocaust-talk, etc. A time to rest the body *and soul*. Considered a Sin ("Missing the Mark") to be sad on Sabbath.
• "Kiss of God" - dying in your sleep.
• Dying on Sabbath is a gift, "merited by piety".

Prologue

• Judaism is a religion of Time rather than Space.
• Time appears as if it wasn't real because it is thingless and insubstantial.
• We typically make time "subservient to space".
• "The Bible is more concerned with time than with space." - Dimensions of time: generations, events, narrative
• Judaism aims at the "sanctification of time". A holiness in time.
• The first time the word "holy" (Heb. Gadosh) is used in Genesis was for the Sabbath day: "And God blessed the Seventh day and made it holy" (Genesis 2:3).
• The Jewish Calendar is based on the life of Nature - Space. The Sabbath and the 7-day week is independent of Nature/Space.

1. Sabbath - Sanctity of Time (by God) - first, takes priority

2. At Sinai - Sanctity of Humankind

3. Tabernacle - Sanctity of Space (by Moses) - last

Part 1, Chapter 1: A Palace in Time

• The Sabbath day is for the sake of life, not for enhancing efficiency of work. Weekdays (work) is for the sake of the Sabbath.
• God rested, blassed, and hallowed the Seventh day.
• Sabbath made of soul, joy, and reticence. A "palace in time"
• "The likeness of God can be found in time, which is eternity in disguise"
• "The love of the Sabbath is the love of man for what he and God have in common"
• The Sabbath is "an opportunity to mend our tattered lives, to collect rather than to dissipate time."
• Sabbath is a day for both Soul and Body - Comfort and Pleasure.
• Menuha - Final creation by God on 7th day; "rest", withdrawal from work and exertion, freedom from toil, strain, or activity of any kind - politive - happiness, stillness, peace, harmony. In later times, became a synonym for life in the world to come, eternal life.

Part 1, Chapter 2: Beyond Civilization

• The Sabbath is not a depreciation but an affirmation of labor. We are commanded to keep the Sabbath *and* to labor on other days.
• Double Sin to show anger on Sabbath - Interpretation of Exodus 35:3 ("Kindle no fire")
• Sabbath isn't for personal anxiety or care, or any activity that might dampen the Spirit of Joy. It isn't a time to remember sins or repent or confess or even to pray for relief or anything we might need.
• Sabbath is for praise, not a day for petitions.
• Forbidden: Fasting, Mourning, Demonstrations of grief, being sad
• Must rest even from the *thought* of labor.