Shabbat Around the Table -- Vayikra

This week we start reading from the book of Vayikra (or Leviticus), a book that contains many of the laws surrounding ritual and observance. When thinking about laws in general, it's easy to think about the laws that govern Shabbat. In order to make a clear distinction between the workweek and Shabbat, there are certain things that the tradition proscribes, like driving cars, using money, or watching TV. But rather than think about what we "can't do" on Shabbat, I've always preferred to think about what we "don't have to do." We don't have to do laundry, we don't have to drive to soccer practice, and we don't have to stand in line at the grocery store. Instead, we get to do the things that are so much more meaningful and rewarding: having dinner together as a family, playing games as a family, and spending time together as a family, without so many distractions. Wishing you and your family a Good Shabbes!