Shabbat as Revolution

For many in the Jewish community, the 39 melachot (categories of creative work) of Shabbat are seemingly archaic, restrictive, and too far removed from the logic of modern life. Yet, in actuality, the melachot that define the work that cannot be done on the Sabbath day are strikingly relevant for the modern condition. In an era where technology defines every action (and interaction), the need for rest is vital for the continued progress of society. And paradoxically, but importantly, we are able to find the solution to our contemporary troubles by going back thousands of years to the debates of the ancient sages. Shabbat as Revolution: 39 Ways to Renew Creation and Change the World connects past and present in an engaging, accessible one-volume text that covers every melacha through a lens of contemporary social action and engagement with moral philosophy. In this way, Shabbat as Revolution offers a dynamic deconstruction and survey that brings Jewish wisdom to life for a 21st century readership. This will include tying the time-honored texts to contemporary moral issues of the day as well as exploring the related notions of character development, moral responsibility, and spirituality in today’s marketplace of ideas.