Recharging the Soul: A Personal Journey Through Shabbat

Shabbat Is the Ultimate Source of Strength

When asked what Shabbat means to him, Tomer replies simply, “Energy.”
“Shabbat is the weekly recharge. It replenishes everything: spirituality, physical energy, time with the kids, time with my wife, everything. It’s what I build toward all week long. And beyond that, it’s a flavor only a Jew can truly experience.”

Family, Prayer, and Sacred Simplicity

His typical Shabbat schedule is rooted in community, family, and quiet joy.
“Prayer, meals, singing, joy, and rest. In the morning, we go to synagogue, have a meal, visit our parents, take the kids to the park, my wife goes to a Tehillim (Psalms) class, I go to a Torah class, we rest, eat, and suddenly, Shabbat is over. It’s mainly about being with my wife and children.”

He prays in a traditional Yemenite synagogue and treasures singing “Lecha Eli” in the Yemenite style with his children. Though not strictly a Shabbat song, it’s one they all love.

Spiritual Giants and Personal Heroes

Asked who he’d love to spend Shabbat with, his answer is both reverent and personal.
“I’d love to spend a Shabbat with Rabbi Shlomo Korach, one of the great Yemenite rabbis. He’s a deeply spiritual figure, full of wisdom and inspiration.”

And as for whom he’d host?
“My late grandmother, who was the inspiration behind my return to Judaism. Even when I was secular, she raised me with love for Hashem and Torah. She came from a family of great Torah scholars. Her father was Rabbi Yechia Mani, a major Torah authority in Yemen and head of two rabbinical courts in Rada. She passed that legacy on to me.”

The Flavor and Spirit of a Holy Day

What makes his Shabbat stand out? “Spiritually, it’s the Torah learning, especially the weekly Torah portion, which I try to study both with my wife and on my own. And physically, we go all out with the food. We prepare dishes from all different traditions: spicy Moroccan fish, jachnun, kubaneh, soups, cakes. Shabbat is also the time to feel like you matter to the Creator.”

And what’s the first thing Tomer does after Shabbat ends?
“We get the kids ready for bed, and then I call my parents to check in and share how our Shabbat was.”