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

The author shares a profound experience teaching young Nigerian Jews, many of whom are highly educated professionals from the Igbo ethnic group who believe they descend from the lost tribe of Gad.

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What struck me last year was their extraordinary sincerity.

Over two years, the author found these individuals possessed an "extraordinary sincerity," unconcerned with the divisions often seen in the established Jewish world. Their primary focus was learning Torah, understanding Judaism, and strengthening their connection to the Jewish people. This encounter led the author to reconsider the meaning of choosing Judaism and, in the most recent year, to delve into the essence of Shabbat.

When tasked with explaining Shabbat from scratch, the author moved beyond the typical focus on prohibitions like using light switches or mobile phones. Instead, the teaching began with the Torah's account of creation, where God rested on the seventh day. This led to the realization that Shabbat's core message, to "cease; stepping back from creating, manipulating, producing, and controlling", is a radical counterpoint to a world that constantly measures individuals by their output.

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Shabbat does not mean collapsing exhausted onto the sofa after a difficult week. It means ceasing; stepping back from creating, manipulating, producing, and controlling.

The article connects Shabbat to the concept of freedom, referencing the second version of the Ten Commandments which recalls the Israelites' slavery in Egypt. Shabbat, the author explains, is a weekly declaration of freedom, asserting that despite responsibilities and deadlines, one is "not a slave to any of them." This weekly pause offers a liberating perspective in a world where phones and work often blur the lines between personal and professional life.

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Shabbat, therefore, is a weekly declaration of freedom. I may have an employer, responsibilities, bills, and deadlines, but ultimately I am not a slave to any of them.