I’m sure it’s no coincidence that Rabbi Sommer put this theme on a Friday. This post will be brief, because I am not only preparing for the High Holy Day season, today I am preparing for Shabbat.

Shabbat is a weekly recurring holiday, in which observant Jews take the day off from the world. Wouldn’t you like to do that now and then?

Observances vary, but in my family, we turn off all the electronics, we don’t drive, we don’t write or cook. We do reheat food that has been previously prepared. We read, hang out as a family, take walks, go to synagogue and visit with our friends.

I always have to laugh when I read about people taking “Internet sabbaticals” or extolling the virtues of turning off their phone for a few hours or even a day. In my world, we do this for 25 hours every single week.

I will admit that as soon as Shabbat goes out, with the lovely ceremony of Havdallah, we all run to turn on our phones and computers and find out what we’ve missed. Usually, not much.

I am now off to continue with my preparations – baking challah, preparing a festive meal, and studying the Torah section that I will be reading aloud for the congregation.

Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom and a lovely weekend!