Growing up, many of my friends’ families had Shabbat dinners. It wasn’t a tradition in my house, but I’ve always liked the idea of slowing down and sharing a communal meal after a long week. But I’ve also found it incredibly daunting.

In this pilot episode, I call on two rabbis — one who considers Shabbat a slowing of time, and one who sees it an opening of space. Both explain their reasons for Shabbat, and help me understand mine.

Learn more about Rabbi Adam Naftalin-Kelman and Rabbi Marc Margolius.

Producer: Kate Mishkin

Editor: Lacy Roberts

Sound design/mixing: Zachary Goldberg

Music: Nan Schwartz

Show Art: Laura Mishkin

Production Assistant: Jack McDonald

Made with support from the Jewish Writers’ Initiative Digital Storytellers Lab and the Maimonides Fund.

Additional thanks to Robert Mishkin, Natalie Mishkin, Andrew Mishkin, Conrad Pope, Barbara Mutnik, Matt McKinney, Rekha Murthy, Ian Coss, Janine Okmin, Sarah Lefton, Rebecca Friedman, and the Digital Storytellers Lab cohort.

Please support this podcast! Tell a friend, rate/review the show, and visit shofarsogoodpodcast.com/support to make a financial contribution to the production of Season 2.