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

A rabbi reflects on teaching young Nigerian Jews, primarily of the Igbo ethnic group who believe they descend from the lost tribe of Gad, about Shabbat. He notes their sincere desire to learn Torah and deepen their Jewish connection. The experience led him to re-evaluate the meaning of Shabbat, moving beyond a list of prohibitions to its core principles. He explains Shabbat as a cessation from creation, mirroring God's rest, and a weekly declaration of freedom from the demands of work and technology, drawing parallels to the liberation from Egyptian slavery. The rabbi emphasizes the "theater" of Shabbat, from Friday preparations and welcoming the "Shabbat bride" to the distinction between sacred and ordinary time marked by Kiddush and Havdalah. He suggests that even partial observance, like a phone-free Friday night family meal, could significantly enrich Jewish lives, highlighting that "more than the Jewish people have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jewish people."