Episode 13: Health Benefits of Shabbat Rest - a podcast by Solomon Ezra Berezin

Taking time to disconnect from our technology is relevant now more than ever! That's why today I share a conversation with Rabbi Schmukler about Shabbat, its origins, its health benefits, its components, and more!

origins and health benefits and why today it is more necessary than ever

Origins [5min]

Idea that G-d created the world and Torah starts with 6 days of creation and 7th day for rest

Why start with that story? 

> Purpose is not to fill in our curiosity about how things came about but to teach us

We are here for a purpose

Gift of Shabbat 

Yes 6 days of working but reason is to rest on 7th

ME: How do we decide what is allowed on Shabbat?

Rabbi: In ancient times people wouldn’t farm.

Shabbat has 2 components = Shamor (to keep) and Zahor (to remember)

10 Commandments is shown 2x in the Torah, once mentioning Shamor and the other Zahor

Sages teach that both are essential

Through things we do and don’t do we connect with source

Anything we want to achieve consists of things we do and don’t do in order to achieve it and make it meaningful

dieting, career, marriage, etc.

Key Components to Shabbat - how does somebody start observing?

> Practical advice start with your entry point… the place most attractive place for you

> For example, A Friday night meal, lighting candles, make a blessing over wine and bread

> Spiritual properties. 

Start with an entry point and expand from there

WeWork video Adam Neuman

https://youtu.be/-4vTTmUByfk      

>Had trouble with his ego

>his rabbi suggested he observe Shabbat

Why is it that by taking this day for rest that we can connect ?

> Shabbat is so multi layered

> Its more than taking a day off. Once you bite into it, it doesn’t matter what’s happening in your week, but when it comes and you stop working

> There’s something bigger than you that you commit to. It creates a genuine island of calm and quiet

Whatever you were doing is not a life-threatening emergency, which is why if it is life threatening you SHOULD take care of it…It’s actually permitted on shabbat

You’re out of news, tech, etc and instead are into family, self, friends, spirituality, community 

That’s a spirit of shabbat in a simple way

Studies that show Having the time to reflect and how to improve and get closer to family [16 min]

Taking a step away can promote Creativity

Mind get’s clearer and refreshed

Its a GIFT not an obligation [17:50] 

Spiritual Connection [19:30]

> Big opening allows a certain sunlight (your soul) to shine through

A few health benefits of powering down from an article I read

Stillness and quiet of shabbat

From a jewish mystical perspective in a nutshell 

> 6 spiritual attributes of the soul that 6 days represent

> 7th receives what the 6 produce or radiate

Why is it more important now than ever [23:40]

>People once thought that it was hard when we had to physically labor so hard

> Now that we can sit on the couch and not have to, things are easier, etc. we think ‘who needs it’ HOWEVER, this shows difference of divine and human wisdom

> Divine wisdom is always applicable, it’s eternal for any time

> Shabbat provided rest for the laborer

> Now that our idea of labor changed (we can work from our phone)… the eternal rules still apply today - to technology for example

> On avg we look at our phones 6x a minute!

Routine/ Set up for Shabbat [26:20]

Shabbat is experienced on multiple levels - observing on each of multiple levels - body, mind, soul

Body - bigger meals with family, resting, physically enjoyable things, 

Mind

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