Rediscovering an ancient gift: What Nigerian Jews taught me about the meaning of Shabbat - opinion

Last year, I had the privilege of teaching a group of young Nigerian Jews who believed they were descendants of the lost tribe of Gad. These highly educated professionals were not interested in the labels and divisions that often divide the established Jewish world. They simply wanted to learn Torah, understand Judaism, and deepen their connection to the Jewish people. Last year, I taught them four one-hour sessions on Shabbat, but their knowledge was patchy. This year, I was tasked with teaching them about Shabbat again.

I knew they were unfamiliar with basic Shabbat concepts like kiddush, candle lighting, the prayer Lecha Dodi, the three meals, and refraining from certain activities on Shabbat. So, I decided to start from the beginning. I realized that Shabbat means ceasing, stepping back from creating, manipulating, producing, and controlling.

In today's world, we are measured by our productivity, constantly connected, and our screens demand our constant attention. Shabbat offers a radical message of freedom – a weekly declaration that we are not slaves to our work, responsibilities, or screens. It is a time when we step back and become detached from our daily demands.

The Torah presents Shabbat as a weekly reminder of our freedom. Slavery means not owning our time; someone else determines when we work, eat, and rest. Shabbat is a celebration of our freedom, a day when we can truly be free from the constraints of work and control. The Torah also teaches that Shabbat commemorates our time as slaves in Egypt. Slavery represents a loss of control and freedom, and Shabbat is a weekly declaration of our liberation.

Teaching Shabbat also brought to light its theater. Friday is spent preparing for the day of rest – cooking, cleaning, and preparing the house. On Shabbat, we sing "Lecha Dodi" and metaphorically welcome the Shabbat bride. Kiddush, the sanctification of the day, marks the beginning of Shabbat. The meals, singing, Torah study, prayer, and community all contribute to the sacred atmosphere of Shabbat. Havdalah marks the end of Shabbat, distinguishing sacred time from ordinary time.

Shabbat offers sacred space and time, and it travels with the Jewish people wherever they go. For generations, it has created a rhythm that unites Jewish communities across the world. Even a simple Shabbat table, with candles, wine, challah, and fine tableware, symbolizes the ancient story of the Jewish people. By presenting Shabbat as an all-or-nothing proposition, we may overlook its potential benefits.

By simply dedicating a few hours on Friday night to family time, refraining from screens, and enjoying a proper meal, Jewish families could experience the profound meaning of Shabbat.