Our culture is materially opulent and spiritually starved. Throughout American communities, lavish homes and well-furnished schools provide our children and ourselves with abundant physical comforts. We have all the possessions we can imagine. Our richness in things is counter-balanced, however, by our poverty in time.
According to a recent study in TIME Magazine, the average American work week has increased from 41 to 47 hours per week, with many adults working far longer hours. With both members of most couples working, we are able to pay for lovely homes, beautiful cars, active children and elegant evenings out. But we rarely have the time to enjoy them. As a consequence of our shortage of time, we undervalue time and overvalue possessions.
Happiness, however, is not to be found through ownership, but only through relationships. Contentment emerges from meaningful living, not from ever-increasing property.
As Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel (20th Century United States) used to say, "Things are the shore, the voyage is in time." Learning to bask in time, rather than to squander time trying to keep up with our possessions, is the fundamental task facing most Americans today. In teaching ourselves how to effectively utilize time, to remember the art of resting and of renewal, we can strengthen ourselves to confront our finitude in time and our loneliness as solitary souls.
The solution to our thirst for time is Shabbat, the Day of Rest. While the remainder of the Ten Commandments focus on matters of theology or of interpersonal ethics, Shabbat is the only ritual which merits a place in those highly-charged words, "Remember the Shabbat day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Shabbat of the Lord your God. You shall not do any work -- you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, or your cattle, or the stranger who is within your settlements. For in six days, the Lord made heaven and earth and sea, and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Shabbat day and hallowed it.
Shabbat is the fundamental building block for all of Judaism and all of Jewish values. It is our portable home in time, a movable tabernacle which travels with the Jewish People through our journeys in history. Once each week, the Jew can put aside chores, obligations and distractions -- the activities which rightly claim our attention during the week -- and can reassert our godlike sovereignty over work.
For 24 hours each week, Jewish families are guaranteed quality time together, time to focus on their relationships together, on learning about their Jewish heritage, on building a Jewish community enriched by their participation and their worship.
A Judaism which does not make time for Shabbat is a mere religion. However, a Judaism centered around Shabbat, consecrated for quiet, meditation, celebration, study and play is one which can outlast the ages. Such a Judaism can infuse our lives and our communities with a sense of balance and perspective, sanctity and wisdom which our age -- so rushed and frantic -- sorely lacks.
Every Jew is invited to a weekly cruise. All embark on a Friday night. Once on ship, there is no need to work -- since all the preparations are already complete. Instead, the voyagers can finally focus on refreshing their tired spirits, their strained hearts and their distracted minds.
An opening service involves thanking the Captain and crew, through poetry, song and discussion, for preparing such a restful and pleasant voyage. A lavish dinner follows -- complete with beautiful candlelight, sparkling wine and a bread so rich it tastes like cake. People retire early for private time and for restful slumber. The next morning, the voyagers gather for a light breakfast, and then spend the morning together, reading and thinking about their goals in life, where they've come so far, what their history has taught them, and what kind of people they want to be.
At noon, another festive meal, no less wonderful than last night's dinner, is served. In the afternoon, some walk the deck, some play ball, some read, while others sleep. At the end of the day, as the cruise returns to shore, all gather for a candle-lighting ceremony and farewell. Renewed and energized, the participants are able to face the new week with anticipation and zeal.
Such a cruise is available to you each week, and has been departing every Friday night for more than 3,000 years. The good ship Shabbat is as seaworthy as ever; all it needs is passengers -- no advance reservations required. All aboard!
Amen.