Ahad Ha’am, the early 20th-century Zionist thinker, famously wrote, “More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.”
Shabbat – the idea that humans must rest, just as God ceased from creating – is perhaps the greatest gift that the Jewish people have given humanity. And for Jews, Shabbat has upheld its profound significance throughout history, acting as a vital thread, weaving the Jewish people together across generations. This weekly respite serves as a touchstone for reflection, tradition, and unity, grounding the Jewish people in their identity.
Shabbat offers us the opportunity to step away from the hustle and bustle of our workdays and rededicate ourselves weekly to our friends, family, and our own spirit. Rabbi Abraham Joshuah Heschel described Shabbat as a sanctuary in time, a respite from the ceaseless march of daily life.
This Shabbat, as we usher in the new month of Elul, we kick off “A Year of Shabbat” at Congregation HEA. We will be dedicating the coming year of 5784 to renewing our relationship with Shabbat as a spiritual practice that can bond us to one another and nourish our souls. We will come together as a community through programs, events, and educational opportunities to explore the meaning and beauty of Shabbat and how we can incorporate its practices into our lives.
We invite you to join us this weekend for “Elul in the Shul,” featuring scholar-in-residence Rabbi Corey Helfand of Congregation Ohr Kodesh in suburban DC. Rabbi Helfand will lead us in music, prayer, and learning, inspiring us to explore how Shabbat can enrich our lives as individuals and as a community.
Rabbi Heschel wrote, “Judaism teaches us to be attached to holiness in time, to be attached to sacred events, to learn how to consecrate sanctuaries that emerge from the magnificent stream of a year.” We hope you will find opportunities this year to step into the sanctuary of sacred time with us.
