Uphold-the-Sabbath

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Please do NOT visit this site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts!

Re Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2“Mechon-Mamre.org (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org (SEF), three brilliant versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!

Colour coded details of our beloved TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Uphold the Sabbath!”

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

This special page is to encourage more, and more Hebrews to uphold the wonderful and blessed Sabbath, for it is our duty to do so, and it should be done with love in order to glorify אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim,  בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם - Baruch Shem - “Blessed be His Name”.

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Let us read Shemot - Exodus Chapter 20; verses 7-9: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah).

זָכוֹר אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, לְקַדְּשׁוֹ

7. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it Holy.

שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד, וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל-מְלַאכְתֶּךָ

8. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work;

וְיוֹם, הַשְּׁבִיעִי-שַׁבָּת, לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ:  לֹא-תַעֲשֶׂה כָל-מְלָאכָה אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבִתֶּךָ, עַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתְךָ וּבְהֶמְתֶּךָ, וְגֵרְךָ, אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶי

9. but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - The LORD thy Eloheicha, in it thou shalt not do any manner of work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates;

כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת-יָמִים עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֶת-הַיָּם וְאֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-בָּם, וַיָּנַח, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי; עַל-כֵּן, בֵּרַךְ יְהוָה אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת-וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ

10. for in six days יְהוָה - the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore יְהוָה - the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it”.

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A Commentary on Exodus 20:7–9 (JPS-1917).

Exodus 20:7 - “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

1. “Remember”.

The JPS 1917 preserves the classical rendering “remember”, which carries several layers in tradition:

Active anticipation: “Remember” means to keep Shabbat in mind all week, e.g., setting aside special foods or preparing mentally for its arrival.

Verbal sanctification: Maimonides explains that “remember” is fulfilled through the Kiddush, the verbal declaration of Shabbat’s holiness!

Historical consciousness: Sabbath is a memorial of Creation and the Exodus. “Remember” means to hold these truths in ‘consciousness’ and ‘speech’.

2. The JPS nuance:

The JPS phrase “to keep it holy” reflects the Hebrewֹ “to make it holy”. Holiness is not passive; we Hebrews participate in sanctifying time.

3. Theological arc:

This verse introduces Shabbat not as a restriction but as a positive command, first ‘remember’, then ‘sanctify’. The prohibitions come later.

This verse is not an ‘aside’, for it is part of the commandment. Shabbat is meaningful only in contrast to purposeful weekday labour.

4. Ethical dimension:

The Torah dignifies work. Shabbat is not a retreat from labour but its completion.

Exodus 20:9 - “But the seventh day is a Sabbath unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - The LORD thy Eloheicha …”

The JPS-1917’s phrasing “a Sabbath unto יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - The LORD thy Eloheicha” emphasizes that Shabbat is not merely rest, but a ‘dedicated rest’, ‘rest oriented’ toward אֱלֹהִים - Elohim!

שַׁבָּת שָׁלוֹם - Shabbat Shalom.

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Please Note: “hebraicstudies” links are located down the page!

This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hostsMal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָהthe LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

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