for the people next door
Faith and beliefs

What is Shabbat? Why won’t my neighbor drive on Saturday?

2 min read Answered by the Neighbor Radio team Neighbor review in progress Updated

Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest. It runs every week from sundown Friday to nightfall Saturday. Many Jews light candles, share a big Friday dinner, go to synagogue and slow down. More traditional Jews also skip work like driving, cooking, shopping and using phones. That’s why your neighbor walks to synagogue. For many, it’s the best day of the week.

1 · MindWhat people believe, and how they know

Shabbat comes from the beginning of the Bible, where God rests on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2-3), and from the Ten Commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8-11).

Jewish tradition lists 39 kinds of work to avoid on Shabbat, based on the work of building the ancient Tabernacle. They include lighting a fire, writing and carrying things in public. Many Orthodox rabbis count switching on electricity and starting a car’s engine as lighting a fire, so observant Jews don’t drive, flip light switches or use phones. Many set timers before sundown.

It’s not just rules. Shabbat starts with lighting candles, a blessing over wine (kiddush) and braided bread (challah). It ends Saturday night with Havdalah, a short ceremony with a braided candle and sweet spices. How strictly people keep it varies a lot. For some Jewish families, Shabbat is simply Friday-night dinner together.

What each tradition or community says

We're Christians, so we list what Christians believe first. Every other section is checked by someone from that faith or community.

Christian connection

The Sabbath is in the Ten Commandments. Most Christians rest and worship on Sunday, the day of Jesus’ resurrection. Seventh-day Adventists keep Saturday.

Orthodox Jews

Keeping Shabbat fully is a commandment and a gift. It’s 25 hours set apart for God, family and community.

Many Reform and secular Jews

Shabbat might mean candles and dinner, a slower Saturday, or time off screens, chosen rather than required.

2 · HeartWhat it feels like

For many families, Shabbat is the one time all week that nobody’s rushing, nobody’s on a phone and everyone eats together. Kids often grow up loving it.

It can feel awkward when friends and neighbors don’t understand why someone can’t come to Saturday’s game, answer a text or flip a light switch.

One day a week with no phone, no errands and a long dinner with people you love. Some of us would call that a vacation. Our Jewish neighbors have been doing it every week for thousands of years.Neighbor Radio

3 · HandsHow to be a good neighbor

Don’t plan Friday-night or Saturday events with observant neighbors. If they don’t answer the phone on Saturday, that’s why. If you’re invited to a Friday dinner, arrive before sundown, and bring flowers or kosher wine. “Shabbat shalom” (Sabbath peace) is the greeting, and it’s welcome from anyone.

This weekTry a mini-Shabbat: one evening this week with no phone, a real dinner and people you love.

TimelineWhere this fits

More than 15,000 years ago: Native peoples in North AmericaAbout 2000 BC: Abraham answers God's callAbout 1500 BC: The Rig VedaAbout 500 BC: The Buddha teachesAbout 400 BC to AD 200: The Bhagavad GitaAbout 250 BC: Emperor AshokaAbout 6 BC: Jesus is bornAbout AD 30: Jesus' death and resurrectionAD 610: The Qur'an's revelation beginsAD 622: The Hijra1469: Guru Nanak is born1699: The Khalsa is founded1787: No religious test for office1791: The First Amendment1820: The First VisionApril 6, 1830: The Church is organized1965: Immigration and Nationality Act1978: American Indian Religious Freedom Act2023–24: 29 percent unaffiliated About 1450 BC: The Exodus and the Torah at Sinai

See every faith on one timeline →

SourcesWhere it is in the scriptures

Hebrew Bible (the Christian Old Testament)

  • Genesis 2:2-3 Read it in the World English Bible on Free Scripture
  • Exodus 20:8-11 Read it in the World English Bible on Free Scripture

Plain wordsWhat do these words mean?

Shabbat
The Jewish Sabbath, a day of rest from Friday at sundown to Saturday night.
Synagogue
A Jewish house of prayer, study and gathering. Also called a shul or a temple.
Orthodox
For Christians: the Eastern Orthodox churches (Greek, Russian, Ethiopian and others). For Jews: the most traditional branch of Judaism. The word means “right belief.”
Rabbi
A Jewish teacher and leader who has studied Jewish law and tradition. Many lead synagogues.
Kosher
Food that follows Jewish dietary laws. For example: no pork or shellfish, and meat and dairy kept apart.

All the words →

Four questions to take with you

From Jesus' story of the Good Samaritan, about the stranger who stopped to help. We call it the Samaritan Test.

  1. Did they see? Or look right past?
  2. Did they stop? Even when it was inconvenient?
  3. Did it cost them? Time, money, comfort, reputation?
  4. Did they treat the person like a person? Not like a label?

Try it on: when a neighbor’s rules make them unavailable, do you get annoyed, or curious?

Quick questions

When does Shabbat start?

At sundown on Friday. Candles are traditionally lit about 18 minutes before sunset.

Can I call my Jewish neighbor on Saturday?

Sure, but observant neighbors won’t answer until Saturday night. A text that can wait is fine.

What’s the difference between Shabbat and Sabbath?

Nothing. Shabbat is the Hebrew word. Sabbath comes from it.

Sources and research
  1. Genesis 2:2-3; Exodus 20:8-11 (World English Bible)
  2. My Jewish Learning: Shabbat 101
  3. Encyclopaedia Britannica: Sabbath
How this answer was made

Written in plain words by the Neighbor Radio team. Each faith's and community's section is checked by someone from that faith or community. Until then, this page says so. Spot something wrong? Tell us. We read every note and fix mistakes.

Where to go next

Free tools that go with this

  • Free Scripture (opens in a new tab)→ Read

    A calm Bible reader with three translations and full search. No ads, no sign-up. Just the words.

    First step: Look up any Bible verse quoted on this site.