Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy 鈥 for six days the Lord made Heaven and Earth, and rested on the seventh day.
鈥 Deuteronomy 20:8
Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest which begins on Friday evening and lasts 25 hours into Saturday evening. Keeping the Sabbath is one of the Ten CommandmentsThe list of rules, revealed by God to Moses, found in the Old Testament books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. Also known as the Decalogue. and therefore is part of the covenantAn agreement or promise. the Jews have with YahwehFrom the four Hebrew consonants YHWH, a form of the Hebrew name for God..
Shabbat is the most important day in the Jewish week. It is a time for the community to worship together.
On Friday evening, the family has a meal and they attend the synagogueBuilding for Jewish public prayer, study and assembly. for the evening service along with other Jewish families in their community.
Shabbat services begin early in the synagogue on Saturday morning. The TorahThe books of the Law. The first five books of the Bible, often called the Books of Moses. is read, and the same portion is read in every synagogue across the world. The Siddur (prayer book) is used to ensure that each synagogue follows the correct structure and words.