In Jewish tradition, the Hebrew name for the weekly Sabbath day is Shabbat.
Shabbat begins before sunset on Friday and ends after nightfall on Saturday. It is rooted in the creation narrative of Genesis, in which God rests on the seventh day, and it also commemorates the Israelites’ liberation from slavery in Egypt. Jewish observance traditionally includes special prayers, festive meals, rest, and abstention from the 39 categories of creative labor known as melakhot.
Shabbat is often translated as “Sabbath,” but Shabbat is the Hebrew name used in Jewish texts and practice. It is not simply a day of worship: traditional Jewish law defines it as a protected period of rest and holiness. Friday-night candle lighting, kiddush, and challah are familiar customs, although exact practices vary among Jewish communities.