Shabbat Shalom!

As this week's Torah portion is Emor ("speak") and we read one of my favorite chapters in the whole Bible (Leviticus 23), I couldn't pass up the chance to do a post about Shabbat, the Sabbath.
FAQ's About Shabbat:

When is Shabbat?
Shabbat begins every Friday evening at sundown and ends after the sunset on Saturday.


Why from sundown to sundown?
That's the order God created the days in. "And the evening and the morning was the first day..."
Also, we always go from "darkness" to "light"; never the opposite.

Who is the Sabbath for?
Read Leviticus 23. God says that they are HIS Shabbats, and He is giving them a sign to His people. If you are one of God's people, then you are invited to join in the rest of the Lord!

You talk a lot about Shabbat dinner. How is that any different from a regular dinner?
Honestly, everything is different at Shabbat dinner! We prepare our best and favorite foods, we say prayers of thanksgiving, we read Scripture, we light special candles, we drink special wine or juice, we eat special bread, and we sing special songs as a family. In a way, it's like having Thanksgiving every week! If you have never experienced a Shabbat dinner, I encourage you to find a way to do so.

What do you do on Saturday?
People celebrate Shabbat different ways. My family usually goes to our fellowship in the morning and eat lunch there; then we come home and take a nice long nap or read the Bible together. We avoid work and focus on resting in the Lord. It truly is an island in time!

Well, that's about all I have time for now, but please feel free to ask any other questions! These are simply the ones I get most often.

Shabbat Shalom! (Have a peaceful Sabbath!)

Thanks to Allposters.com for the picture!