Shabbat. A Day To Create Yourself: Building character, shaping perspectives, and finding happiness through Shabbat

by Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein

From Chief Rabbi Dr Warren Goldstein – the creator of the international Shabbat Project – comes a book that tells the story of Shabbat in a way that has never been told before… and a call to “return Shabbat to the center of Jewish life”. Published as a non-profit private initiative, all book proceeds will go towards the Shabbat Project.
Here’s what some of the leading lights in the Jewish world are saying about Shabbat. A Day to Create Yourself. “Illuminating… an important addition to the collective Jewish library.” – President Isaac Herzog “An essential for any home… the start of creating peace, wholeness, and holiness.” – Mayim Bialik
“Guides us to make changes to improve our daily lives… dynamic and captivating.” – Professor Dan Ariely “Will enrich the Shabbat experience of anyone who reads it.” – Senator Joseph Lieberman “An articulate and timely message about the importance of Shabbat as a source of Jewish unity, courage, and strength.” – Natan Sharansky “I was moved to tears while reading sections of A Day to Create Yourself…not only explains the meaning of Shabbat, but of Judaism as a whole.” – Rabbi Hershel Schachter What unites a Russian refusenik, a US senator, a Parisian fashion designer, a world-famous behavioral psychologist, and a world championship boxer?
What brings together prime ministers and presidents, musicians and actors, Nobel prize-winners and novelists?
What lies at the heart of a global grassroots movement uniting Jews across every language, culture, and background? Shabbat. But if Shabbat isn’t just a day of rest, what is it?
Shabbat. A Day to Create Yourself is a call to see Shabbat with fresh eyes – to discover how it can unleash personal and societal renewal, and offers us a recipe for happiness in an increasingly complex world. But also, how it gives us something more – the Divine gift of self-creation; how more than just a day of rest, Shabbat is a day that completely transforms us. Ultimately, Shabbat reminds us that our most important accomplishments in life cannot be touched or measured or priced – that our greatest work of creation is ourselves. Drawing from hundreds of Jewish sources, distilling the ideas and commentaries of Jewish sages spanning three thousand years, Shabbat. A Day to Create Yourself delves into some of the deepest secrets of Shabbat.
And tells the story of Shabbat in a way that has never been told before.

Genres: Jewish, Nonfiction, Religion

288 pages, Hardcover

Published March 13, 2023

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very worthy book on how to make a healthy routine for your life. Did not know about the Shabbat movement until I read this book. Learned about the author on the Dennis Prager talk radio program. Checked this book out from interlibrary loan from the San Antonio Public Library.

[Sara Loves to Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This understanding of the mitzvas as a formula for living with happiness in this world is based on the approach of Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz, Daas Torah, bamidbar, Behaaloscha, p. 84-86, based on Ibn Ezra and Ramban in their commentaries to Vayikra 18:5. See also the Shelah, Torah shebichtav, mishpatim, Derech Chaim 4.
To live wisely, we need to nurture inner calm. Menucha is the gateway to physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing.
Dubno Magid parshas Yisro 20:8 mashal with carrying a bag on the carriage
Our trust does not mean we believe everything is going to turn out exactly the way we want, rather it is the understanding that everything that happens in our lives is part of Gd’s plan (Chazon Ish, Emunah u’Vitachon 2:1)
Judge every person favorably - Sfas Emes says this could mean judge the entire person
Be strong and courageous - the double loshon is because you need courage to start and courage to see it through (Malbim)
Adam is like adama because both are pure potential. To live a fruitful, productive life requires continuous work and development.
Menucha is the deep sense of rootedness that comes with being connected to the enduring values of the Torah.
This is a world of forgetting. We are surrounded by so many distractions that can lead us to forget our purpose (Sfas Emes).
Shabbos teaches us to experience time as nonlinear, it is a day when past present and future intersect. (Idea of time as nonlinear from Rabbi Soloveitchik’s article “Sacred and Profane”)
Keeping the mitzvos is a communal project. No Jew can fulfill all mitzvos yet all mitzvos apply (Ohr Hachaim, Shemos 39:32; Meshech Chochmah, 19:8)
When we see the beauty of human love, such as by bircas kohanim, we feel the presence of Gd.
Connecting physical and spiritual pleasure is the secret to finding happiness. Shabbos shows they are intertwined (Ohr Hatzafun vol 2, article 23, p. 132-135).
Shabbos inspires us to live with the mindset of renewal. It guides us to see the world as new and fresh with possibility. It reminds us that Gd renews and refreshes His world constantly (Ohr Hatzafun, vol 2, article 18, p. 100-105).

[Amber Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The way it’s written makes it so easy to remember and read and even teach others .
This book changed my perspective on Shabbat and in general made appreciate the little things in life more. It’s one of those books that I would read even a few times to make sure that I don’t forget what’s written and I know that I would get bored from it !

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was interesting to learn about the Shabbat and how it is intended to energize and reconnect you with your family, with your friends, and with God.
I can't wait to try and honor a shabbat

[Nurit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reaaaallyy good. Gave 3 starts bc at the end it’s a little repetitive

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to learn about Shabbat? This is your book!