Saturday, the 7th day of the week starting with Sunday, was determined as a day of absolute rest and this day was called Shabbat (Sabbath). Shabbat, as a day considered sacred, is a day when the individual is expected to take a break from all kinds of professional work and devote himself to God through worship and Torah learning, as well as strengthening his spiritual side.
It is religiously forbidden to do any work that is one of the 39 melachot, the thirty-nine categories of activity which Jewish law identifies as prohibited by biblical law, on the Sabbath. Today; beyond being a day off, it should be perceived as a unit of time that allows one to become spiritually stronger and remember that the individual is a being with particles of divine quality in one’s soul, rather than an ordinary living being, and inspires the person to fulfill his/her requirements.
Shabbat begins at sunset on Friday and continue until after sunset on Saturday.
The basis of the rules and prohibitions regarding Shabbat is the cessation of all the prohibited work. The household prepares to welcome Shabbat, get dressed elegantly, the Shabbat table is set early, and people wait as if an important guest is coming to the house. All preparations end with the lighting of Shabbat candles by the ladies at home.
In light of the Turkish Jewish traditions traditions, Shabbat preparations begin on Thursday. Shopping is done and meals are prepared for the Shabbat table. Family members who do not have the opportunity to meet during the week come together for the Shabbat dinner, and thus family ties are strengthened. This tradition, which was passed on to the younger members of the family, still continues today.
