What’s meaningful about keeping Shabbat? Lots of things, right? It’s a day of rest, a chance to put down our phones, learn and pray, focus on our family and friends. But Shabbat has its challenging aspects too. Sometimes the restrictions of Shabbat weigh on us and make it hard for us to appreciate how meaningful it is. So how do we hold on to a sense of the beauty of this day? 

Well, what if we knew that keeping Shabbat actually makes something important, something kind of magical, happen in the world… even when it seems as if we’re just sitting at home doing nothing? And wouldn’t it be amazing if we had something to do or say, every single week, to remind us that we’re about to make this transcendent thing happen? 

In this episode of Meaningful Judaism, Rabbi David Fohrman dives deep into the words of the Torah’s commandment to keep Shabbat and uncovers a surprising message about the profound meaning of resting on the seventh day. In conversation with host Imu Shalev, Rabbi Fohrman takes a new look at a Shabbat practice we may never have thought much about. And what they discover is that this familiar ritual actually ushers us through a portal to the transcendent meaning we long for.

Boy soloist featured in this episode: Reuven Richman

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