Saturday, February 7, 2009

Shomer Shabbos

I think the time has come to start observing Shabbat again. It has been a long time since I practiced Judaism in more than a cursory way, but I'm going to take my mom's example and turn religion to my own use. The phone rang this morning (Saturday) with a business call. Ordinarily I would pick up the phone and get right into it. Today I decided to stay on the couch with my son, and continue watching Monster's Inc. I felt some anxiety about this, until I went and checked my messages, but if I actually turn off the phone (gasp) then I wouldn't even know I had a message. Of course that won't stem the tide of emails, or keep my other cell phone from ringing, but I think it will be a good start.

For many years I have worked 24/7, with no "defined" time off. Sure, I take my share of leisure time, but it is subject to interruption at any time. I know this has been hard on my family, as well as on me. So, from now on, starting at sunset on Friday night and ending at sunset on Saturday night, I am going to institute my own version of Shabbat. No working, unless it is something I love to do. So, I don't count writing this post, or reading a tech book I want to read, or whatever else I choose to do. But nothing I "have" to to. We shall see how this works out.

For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, here is a quote from The Big Lebowski, courtesy of IMDB. I have redacted the cursing.

Walter Sobchak: I told those [bleeps] down at the league office a thousand times that I don't roll on Shabbos!
Donny: What's Shabbos?
Walter Sobchak: Saturday, Donny, is Shabbos, the Jewish day of rest. That means that I don't work, I don't get in a car, I don't [bleeping] ride in a car, I don't pick up the phone, I don't turn on the oven, and I sure as [bleep]
[shouts]
Walter Sobchak: don't [bleeping] roll! Shomer shabbos!
The Dude: Walter...
Walter Sobchak: Shomer [bleeping] shabbos.