Secrets of Shabbat revealed in chief rabbi’s new book

Few books are lauded by television stars, senior rabbis, an Israeli president, and United States senators, but Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein’s book on Shabbat has elicited applause from all of the above and more.

President Isaac Herzog said of Shabbat – A Day to Create Yourself, “It reminds us of the real ways in which Shabbat can elevate our lives and our souls, and shows us why Shabbat is the national treasure of our people.”

Dan Ariely, bestselling author and professor of psychology and behavioural economics at Duke University, said the book demonstrated the wisdom of Shabbat in “the ways it interacts with and reflects the way we live and – most important from the perspective of social science – how it guides us to make changes to improve our daily lives”.

United States Senator Joseph Lieberman, who is a vice-presidential candidate, said the book was: “an inspiring read for scholars and novices alike. Deeply philosophical, but not dense. And full of practical insights that will enrich the Shabbat experience of anyone who reads it.”

Rabbi David Lau, the Ashkenazi chief rabbi of Israel, said the book “reveals the secrets, the inner dimensions of Shabbat, and brings to light not just their meaning, but their application. I have no doubt this book will strengthen the covenant between the Jewish people and the Creator.”

Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, the Sephardi chief rabbi of Israel, said Goldstein “lays out how to build character and find happiness through keeping Shabbat”. Goldstein “has set out the contents precisely and thoughtfully, golden apples presented in silver showcases”.

The book has also been lauded by other leading rabbis around the world. Rav Hershel Schachter said he was “moved to tears”; Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, found it “overflowing” with ideas; and Rav Osher Weiss said the book “demonstrates the personal heights each and every one of us can reach by keeping Shabbos”.

South Africa’s chief rabbi said he was inspired to write the book because of the manner in which the Shabbos Project – his brainchild – took hold first in South Africa and then around the world.

“The response was overwhelming, and, in truth, deeply surprising,” he recalled. “I was struck by the visceral embrace of Shabbat among Jews of all backgrounds, beliefs, and nationalities. There was a tremendous outpouring of joy and excitement, with so many people touched in deeply personal ways.”

The book is intended as a companion to the Shabbos Project, Goldstein said. “It’s not meant to be something you take off the shelf and read from time to time, it’s a book that spurs action and commitment, that sparks public discussion, that moves people to experience Shabbat for themselves.”

This is why the book is being launched around the world, and why all proceeds are going towards the Shabbos Project. It has been translated into three languages – French, Spanish, and Hebrew – with Shabbat Project volunteer partners in a number of countries driving public engagement and setting up dedicated learning groups focused on the book’s main themes.

The book tells of the weekly event that lies at the heart of a global grassroots movement uniting Jews across every language, culture, and background – Shabbat.

It’s “a call to see Shabbat with fresh eyes, to discover how it can unleash personal and societal renewal, how it offers us a recipe for happiness in an increasingly complex world”, Goldstein said.

“This book shows how Shabbat gives us the tools to create the best version of ourselves and our world, reminding us that our most important accomplishments in life cannot be touched or measured or priced. Building character, shaping perspectives, and offering happiness, Shabbat gives us the divine gift of self-creation.

“As I began writing, I was faced with many questions: what lies at the heart of a global movement of thousands of volunteers and hundreds of thousands of participants of every persuasion? What is the secret power and beauty of this G-d-given gift that has captivated Jews for generations? Why is Shabbat so compelling for us today? The book is an attempt to answer these questions,” he said.

Though the book is written in a simple, lucid style, with short chapters and easy-to-digest ideas, it’s nevertheless a work of deep scholarship, drawing from literally hundreds of Jewish sources, and distilling the ideas and commentaries of Jewish sages spanning 3 000 years.

Said Goldstein, “I was moved to write Shabbat – A Day To Create Yourself because I believe passionately, having served as chief rabbi of this magnificent community for almost 18 years, and I see this now more clearly than ever: Shabbos is the divine gift we all need to thrive in today’s frenzied world.

“Writing it has been an eye-opening experience for me and a labour of love. And I want to thank our entire community for that. The way we embraced the Shabbos Project inspired the world, but it also inspired me to write this book, to uncover the secrets of Shabbos and what makes it so compelling and captivating.

“It’s been a real journey of discovery for me, and I hope it will be equally eye-opening for those who read it.”

Quoting from his book, he said, “Shabbat gives us the time and space we need to breathe; to create ourselves; to build our inner world; strengthen our faith; nurture our family and find meaning and purpose; to create a better quality of life; to curate the kind of life we yearn for.

“Shabbat instils in us the humility, wisdom, trust, optimism, generosity, idealism, gentleness, appreciation, and stillness we need to thrive, psychologically, ethically, spiritually – all the character traits we need to live optimally and joyfully.”

The chief rabbi explains in his book that Shabbat also addresses “the most serious existential threat to the future of the Jewish people – assimilation rooted in apathy, ignorance, and disengagement”.

In his book, he reflects upon the fact that once a week, we need to pause and focus our creative energy inwards. “Shabbat gives us the time to think and learn. More than that, the day itself enriches our mind. For six days of the week, we pursue our material needs. But on Shabbat, we dedicate ourselves to thinking and learning Torah, to becoming wiser. The laws of Shabbat clear an entire night and day from all the hassles and responsibilities of daily life, giving us not just the time, but the headspace to learn, to think, to pursue wisdom and knowledge.”

He goes on to say, also quoting from his book, “To live wisely, we need to nurture inner calm. We need to be serene. This approach is useful in every aspect of life. The laws of Shabbat are designed by G-d to create an atmosphere conducive to a state of being called menucha – a feeling of complete calm and serenity.

“The week is full of uncertainty,” Goldstein said. “We struggle along, dealing with various pressures and difficulties. But one thing is certain: when the sun sets on Friday afternoon, Shabbat comes in. No matter what else is going on in our lives, Shabbat always arrives. It’s an authentically optimistic cycle to live in because it always culminates in the light, joy, and inspiration of Shabbat. No matter what happens during the week, the love, joy, faith, and peace of Shabbat is no more than six days away.”

Finally, Shabbat shows us that we can restrain ourselves and, in so doing, elevate ourselves above all things we often think we cannot do without.

• Shabbat – A Day to Create Yourself is available in hardcover from Takealot, and in eBook and audiobook formats from Amazon. All book proceeds will be donated to the Shabbat Project.