Noahides and the Shabbat

Many questions are asked about Shabbat. Is Shabbat now for everyone or only for the Jewish people? What about the rituals? Or is it only for religious people?

8 April 2023 / 17 Niesan 5783

We should keep in mind that Shabbat was given directly by G-d to the Jewish People as a covenant and inheritance through the Prophet Moshé. This includes specific commandments and prohibitions. A specific example of this is the prohibition against working.

The prohibition of work means to abstain from the 39 works that were performed at the time of temple construction, think of making fire, tearing something up, carrying burdens, buying/selling etc.
So that prohibition of work was not given to the nations of the world. It is a unique and specific thing for the Jewish people. A covenant between G-d and His people.
It would be inappropriate and untrue to say that HaShem commanded the Gentiles to keep Shabbat. Some therefore consider this to be a form of stealing: appropriating something not given to you.
Still, that day is very special, how can we deal with it as well and faithfully as possible, without falling into fake Judaism? We all know examples of groups that set themselves up in such a way that the distinction between being Gentile and being Jewish is no longer noticeable. This is not the biblical intention.

It is also not intended and, in fact, it is a Torah prohibition to create a new religion, something that other monotheistic religions that also base themselves on the Torah have not immediately realized as much or have not seen the import of this.
Contemporary groups cite the text from Genesis 1 which states that G-d rested on the Seventh Day to prove that everyone may keep Shabbat, but the explanation is that He, blessed be His Name, stopped creating. However, He continued to sustain the worlds and cosmos. In this text, it is not about man but about G-d Himself and there is no ordinance, commandment or setting.

The Noahides who base themselves on general Orthodox Judaism try to match up very accurately with what the Rabbis teach about this. We do not just shake something up our sleeve, we do not try to put together something that is fun or fits well with everyone, no, we consult the Torah faithful Rabbis who specialize in teaching Gentiles. From that we base how we as Noahides can and may shape to faith and life.

We now come to the difference between "keeping the Shabbat" as explained above and "recognizing the Shabbat."
So the "keeping of Shabbat" as described above with all the rituals and blessings (brachot) should be performed by people who are Jewish.
But "recognizing the Shabbat " is something we can and should certainly do.

In practical terms, this means that at the start of Shabbat which begins at sunset on Friday evening, we can organize a festive meal and in doing so we pronounce the "Recognition of the Seventh Day." We can light 1 or more candles, it is nice to light one for each family member and this can be combined with a passage of text from Genesis or with a Psalm, blessing our children, or a prayer from the Siddur (prayer book for Noahites). The rest of Shabbat can be spent with our daily work or weekend services, music, walking, some extra studying by taking a Shiur (class) or practicing Hebrew.

Whether working or being a day off: spending time together as a family or with guests, doing activities with the children: it has a healing and unifying effect in it. So in this way we co-memorize as Noahides the importance of this special day.

Written by Anne Marie Laseur

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