The Shabbat That Changed Everything

From Skepticism to Curiosity

When people talk about keeping Shabbat, you’ll hear both extremes; some say it’s easy, others find it incredibly difficult. For me, the challenge was the fear of the unknown. I was in my 40s, recently divorced, raising two teenagers, and navigating the struggles of daily life. The idea of adding more limitations to my life felt impossible.

Around that time, I met a religious man. In our very first conversation, he asked, “If you don't leave your house on Shabbat anyway, why not just observe it?” I knew where he was going with that comment, and I cut him off quickly. “No chance I’ll ever keep Shabbat,” I told him. “Don’t try to push this on me.” To his credit, he didn’t. He was kind, patient, and respectful.

Two weeks later, entirely on my own, I found myself reading about Shabbat-what it really means, what’s actually involved. I realized that some small first steps were rather doable: no TV, no music, no laundry. When Friday night came, I tried it out. To my surprise, that first evening went smoothly.

Saturday morning was harder. I felt restless and cooped up. So I went out for a few walks throughout the day, and it helped. The real challenge came from my family. My kids and relatives didn’t understand why I’d suddenly chosen to keep Shabbat, and they didn’t hide their disapproval. But my faith and inner conviction were stronger than their comments. And slowly, week by week, it got easier. I even started taking on more practices. What surprised me most? I began to look forward to Shabbat. That feeling was completely new for me.

Shabbat Became My Shelter

Today, Shabbat is my safe haven. It's a sanctuary for anyone who needs rest, emotionally and physically. It empowers me, soothes me, and helps me reflect on who I am, what I want, and where I’m headed.

You don’t need to be fully religious to keep Shabbat. You can start small, and gradually add more: say some Tehillim, recite Shir HaShirim, learn to say blessings, or recite Havdalah when Shabbat ends.

The most important thing is to remind yourself: Hashem is with us 24/7. He knows exactly what we need, and He’s guiding us every step of the way.

Have a Shabbat Story? We'd Love to Hear It.

What inspired you to start keeping Shabbat? What moment changed everything?

We’re collecting stories from people like you—real, personal journeys to Shabbat observance. If you’d like to inspire others, share your story with us.

You can start by telling us about yourself (optional): your name, age, geographic location, family status, and profession. Then tell us what Shabbat means to you today.

Send us your story in writing (feel free to include a photo) or make a short video and send it to shuli@htv.co.il. Submissions will be published at our discretion.