Writing by Dr. Dannielle Blumenthal

Didn’t post to social media this Shabbos for the first time in many years.

Realized I have been looking at Shabbos the wrong way all my life.

This is a direct result of environmental factors. In my upbringing, Shabbos as a concept was a requirement with penalties for failing.

Gen X Jews from the NY/NJ area who went to yeshiva can probably affirm they also got that message.

Now I don’t dispute that we as Jews are required to keep Shabbat.

But I do think the fundamental dynamic is not meant to be one of force.

Instead it is something like HaShem reaching out to the soul of every Jew and saying—in the most romantic way, like a person torn apart with longing speaks to their beloved—

“I miss you. When will you spend some time with me?”