Why Close on Shabbat? Five Powerful Reasons to Embrace the Jewish Day of Rest

A Heritage Worth Honoring

1. Shabbat is a cultural treasure the world borrowed from us.
Nearly two thousand years ago, Roman author Pliny the Elder visited the Land of Israel and documented three remarkable features: a sea where no one drowns (the Dead Sea), a Temple without an image, and a day each week when no work is done. Today, most world religions have adopted their own day of rest. Why would we, the originators, abandon ours?

2. Shabbat strengthens the family unit.
It’s often the only time a couple can pause the rush of daily life to spend uninterrupted time together. Relationship counselors commonly recommend a weekly, screen-free date to reconnect. Shabbat gives us exactly that, every single week.

3. Shabbat is a day to truly parent.
All week long, parents rush to work, kids are in school, and time together is limited and distracted. Shabbat offers the best hours of the day, free from the pressure to earn, to bond, teach, and build the kind of relationships that shape lifelong connections.

A Day of Values 

4. Shabbat is one of humanity’s greatest equalizers.
It’s the one day a week when the CEO and the intern are equals. On Shabbat, all roles reset. It reminds us that every person is inherently dignified, no matter their status.

5. Shabbat makes space for personal growth.
For those who toil throughout the week, Shabbat is a sacred opportunity to expand the soul. It’s a time for reflection, reading, study, listening to Torah classes, and investing in the inner self.

As the chosen people, we are called not just to uphold this gift but to live by its values.

Even Meir Dizengoff, the first mayor of Tel Aviv, insisted on preserving the public character of Shabbat, stating: "This is not merely a religious matter—it is a national one. Every nation has its traditions, beliefs, and customs that preserve its identity."

It's important to remember, though, that ultimately we observe Shabbat as a Divine command and we remember the Torah’s words:
“Observe the Shabbat day and keep it holy... so that your servant may rest as you do. And remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and Hashem your God took you out with a strong hand and an outstretched arm.”

Shabbat is not just a day off. It’s who we are.