Judith Shulevitz

So there's this puzzle in the first creation story. Remember that the book of Genesis has two creation stories, right? There's the one where God says, let there be light and there is light. And the one where God creates Eve out of Adam. So let's take the first one. So on each of six days, God creates something. Material, tangible, creates day.

So there's this puzzle in the first creation story. Remember that the book of Genesis has two creation stories, right? There's the one where God says, let there be light and there is light. And the one where God creates Eve out of Adam. So let's take the first one. So on each of six days, God creates something. Material, tangible, creates day.

Well, I guess maybe day and night are not so tangible, but they're certainly experiential. Creates vegetation, creates the stars and the moon, creates animals, and on the sixth day creates man and woman, which, by the way, God creates equally on the sixth day. And then on the seventh day, God rests. But God doesn't just rest. He makes rest, which seems like a contradiction in terms.

Well, I guess maybe day and night are not so tangible, but they're certainly experiential. Creates vegetation, creates the stars and the moon, creates animals, and on the sixth day creates man and woman, which, by the way, God creates equally on the sixth day. And then on the seventh day, God rests. But God doesn't just rest. He makes rest, which seems like a contradiction in terms.

God is making something. God is making rest. So the rabbis say, well, how can that be? And how can God be making something that isn't? And the answer is God was creating this system of meaning, which is based on stopping and And looking back over what God had created to say, is that good? And it turns out it was good.

God is making something. God is making rest. So the rabbis say, well, how can that be? And how can God be making something that isn't? And the answer is God was creating this system of meaning, which is based on stopping and And looking back over what God had created to say, is that good? And it turns out it was good.

Yeah. Well, I would say I don't see that much of a distinction between these two things. I would say both are active processes, first of all, because you have to create the space beforehand. So that's one thing. And the second is that you rest, you try to have repose like every evening, right? What's the difference? How do you make that?

Yeah. Well, I would say I don't see that much of a distinction between these two things. I would say both are active processes, first of all, because you have to create the space beforehand. So that's one thing. And the second is that you rest, you try to have repose like every evening, right? What's the difference? How do you make that?

Well, maybe you don't. In our 24-7 economy, which you are deeply enmeshed in, maybe you don't. But there's a rabbi named Gineba who talks about

Well, maybe you don't. In our 24-7 economy, which you are deeply enmeshed in, maybe you don't. But there's a rabbi named Gineba who talks about

what this sabbath feeling should be as opposed to a nothing or a not doing or a thing to go back to the creation story that has to be created and he says it may be compared to a king who made a bridal chamber which he plastered painted and adorned but what did the bridal chamber lack a bride similarly what did the world lack the sabbath

what this sabbath feeling should be as opposed to a nothing or a not doing or a thing to go back to the creation story that has to be created and he says it may be compared to a king who made a bridal chamber which he plastered painted and adorned but what did the bridal chamber lack a bride similarly what did the world lack the sabbath

It's bringing something in that is different, that is special. And in order to do that, you have to create the space for it.

It's bringing something in that is different, that is special. And in order to do that, you have to create the space for it.

Yes.

Yes.

I would say that I actually don't agree with Heschel there because he frames it in an individualist perspective, right? It's on you, Ezra. You have to stop working. And if you don't, you feel bad. And even the things that you are doing feel like work by other means.

I would say that I actually don't agree with Heschel there because he frames it in an individualist perspective, right? It's on you, Ezra. You have to stop working. And if you don't, you feel bad. And even the things that you are doing feel like work by other means.

I mean, I'm a book critic and I did have a fact checker on a story I wrote about this say to me, I write about, you know, reading novels on Shabbat. And he said, isn't that what you get paid to do? And I'm like, yeah, it's permitted. So there isn't any way you're going to get to this kind of rest by yourself. That's the fundamental message of my book.

I mean, I'm a book critic and I did have a fact checker on a story I wrote about this say to me, I write about, you know, reading novels on Shabbat. And he said, isn't that what you get paid to do? And I'm like, yeah, it's permitted. So there isn't any way you're going to get to this kind of rest by yourself. That's the fundamental message of my book.