How to put it all on hold, on pause, on stop--for Shabbat the Jewish Sabbath, the last day of the week when G-d rested. It is not easy. It is a sin to work on Shabbat. So how can we stop working when we take pleasure in our work, especially if we are artists, actors, and writers, and crave doing our craft, something we live for and love.
The first volume of The Talmud, number one, is all about the rules of Shabbat, what not to do, and what is allowed that we are able to do. The day has to be different in someway than all the other days of the week, it should be a stress-less relaxing day, but a day when we can spend much time in the study of Torah. We can study Torah and it and your Siddur are the only books we should carry around. We should not pick up or carry miscellaneous heavy books other than the Torah and Siddur. We should not carry anything with our hands, try to attach an object to your body with string or just put it in a shoulder bag. We do not want the force of our energy spent doing anything except towards the worship of G-d. We are to praise, and sing, but if it becomes work, we are to cease it.
We cannot spend on Shabbat, or even whip out a credit card, no checking the balance in your checkbook either. The responsibility of finances is halted over Shabbat--do not dread whether or not a bill was paid, today, instead try to stay away from anything that has to do with money. Do not worry about your bills today, do not spend or take any money today. Do not work for a living today. Do not pay anyone else's wages who works for you today, wait till Sunday.
Do not create today, even if you are an artist. If you are a writer, do not dare to pick up a pen and write. Do not even sign your name.
Do not listen to music today. If you must listen to music, make it the music of the Hebrew chanting, the songs we sing in Shuls on Shabbat. If you must listen to some kind of tune and are going crazy without a melody to soothe you, then listen to Classical music, a symphony, an opera.
Do not use electronics or email or use your computer on Shabbat. If you can turn off all lights, do not push the buttons in elevators today, and definitely do not create an email and send it today. If you must use your telephone today, confine your phone calls to only those who are closest to you, your closest family members and best friends only.
Do not cook or light a fire on Shabbat. Cook all your Shabbat meals on Friday and just warm them up in a crockpot on Saturday. Make yourself a delicious cholent or just eat a Kiddush at your Shul and do not cook at all on Saturdays. Do not lift a knife to cut open an apple.
We can work to keep ourselves clean on Shabbat--taking showers and baths, washing dishes, cleaning off tabletops, and shining our shoes, clipping our nails, and brushing our hair. Ironing our clothes is permitted.
These simple rules will guarantee you a stress free day, so you can righteously say that you are resting and taking it easy, using all your energy to only praise G-d. It is a day G-d has chosen for His chosen ones, the Israelites, to take a break, to relax, to stop all the craziness of the weekdays.
The day is Saturday when G-d rested after creating the world. He has given us this day to feel rest too. Make use of the day to gain your depleted strength reserves and to rest them so they can rejuvenate, so you have strength on Sunday and all the other weekdays. Saturday should be the best day of your week. Socialize at a Shul, invite over friends, take a walk in a meadow, smell a flower today, go to the beach, take a walk in a park, go to a museum. Have fun and create a day to be remembered as the most peaceful day of your week.
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