Szabat. Odpoczynek formą świętowania
The Sabbath. Rest as a form of celebration

Summary/Abstract: The author discusses an extremely important problem, namely, the significance of rest in our lives. Nowadays, most people tend to allow little or no time for appropriate and adequate rest in order to maximize their performance and achieve professional goals, which is often done at the expense of their own health. Therefore, the problem of rest, in the biblical sense, deserves special attention. Such an analysis of rest is conducted by the author based on the Israeli Sabbath, which, at present, is a day off work and a holiday. First, the author analyzes the terminology and theological content related to the Sabbath. Then, the theory of the origins and sacralization of the Sabbath is presented. Another important aspect is an attempt to describe the rites and rituals connected with the Sabbath day as a celebration day, and not as an obligation imposed on people. The last part of the work contains the following conclusions about universal inspirations related to the Sabbath: 1. An important aspect of the Old Testament Sabbath (and Christian Sunday) is physical and mental regeneration, which allows people to appreciate the value of their lives and enjoy them during both hard work and the time of rest. 2. Rest has an intrinsic value (a value for its own sake), a health value (physical, mental and spiritual regeneration) and an instrumental value that creates an opportunity to fulfill one’s needs and aspirations. 3. Rest (the Sabbath – Sunday) is a time for family and serves to strengthen both family ties and community relations.

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