General

Sabbath

According to Wikipedia, “Jewish law prohibits doing any form of meleachah on shabbat, with some exceptions Though melachah is commonly translated as work in English, a better definition is deliberate activity or skill and craftmanship. There are 39 categories of prohibited activities.”

Some of these 39 activities include:

  • Planting
  • Plowing
  • Baking
  • Selecting
  • Writing more than 2 letters
  • Erasing more than 2 letters
  • Igniting a fire
  • Applying the finishing touch
  • Tying
  • Untying

There seems to be a lot of debate about the use of modern electronics and appliances. Can you drive a car? What about watching a tv- even if it was on when Sabbath began?

Before I began this journey, I had to decide exactly how far I was going to take my Sabbath attempts. The laws aren’t just confusing they are overwhelming. For example, according to my study it was permissible for me to use the refrigerator but when you open the door the incandescent light bulb is triggered and thus violates the law prohibiting igniting a fire. I could drink my cold sweet tea but each trip to the fridge violated the law. The solution for some is to unscrew the bulb in the fridge before sundown on the Sabbath.

Some Rabbis have varying rules and teachings on the use of electronics. Some believe that typing and deleting text in on a computer doesn’t violate the writing laws. Also, many people see sitting at the computer a way to relax and rest. What would I choose? How could I observe the Sabbath appropriately?

I started by turning off the electronics all together. I turned off the tv. No iPod or XBOX. I handed the iPhone to my wife for safe keeping. For me to truly rest and connect with the spirit in which the Sabbath was intended I could not be tethered online or to mindless entertainment.

Second, I decided not to read any “ministry related” books or magazines during the Sabbath. I love to read and certainly reading does not violate the Sabbath. However, for me to read a ministry book would keep me connected to work. I can’t just passively enjoy a book about ministry. The point is rest and I can’t do that while taking notes.

Thirdly, my Sabbath would not infringe on my family in any way. Well, the first one at least didn’t get in the way. Part of the reason I decided to choose April for this experiment was that my wife is scheduled to be gone nearly every weekend. This way my experiment wouldn’t infringe on her too much. That first Sabbath was a great time of zero expectations and no agendas and we were able to share it together. Although, she didn’t appreciate the fact that I couldn’t help her move a table. It wasn’t that heavy anyway.

So, what does the Sabbath have in store for me this weekend? Since I’m home alone again I’m taking it up a notch by not turning the lights on or off. If the light is on at sundown, it stays on. If it is off at sundown, it stays off.

Oh, and I’m unscrewing the little light bulb in the fridge. Ya, I’m going there.