Spellcheck Musings: Shabbat

Although I started my professional life as a Jewish educator, and the integrated whole of who I am simply can’t be pulled apart into Jewish and secular components, I don’t often write in public about Jewish themes. Many of you- my loyal readers- are not Jewish and some of you feel no real connection to any religious group.

 

But today, I was typing the word Shabbat for the googolest time in my life, and as always, the spell check wanted to suggest that in fact I meant “showboat”. 

 

שבת 

 

Background: Shabbat:  

The Hebrew word for the Jewish Sabbath, which takes place from an hour before sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. The root of the word implies rest, desisting from work, possibly even return. For me it is the gift of time that reconnects me to my divine source, to my community and to my family. It disconnects me (literally) from most of the modern technological conveniences and ritualizes reflection, appreciation, study and song. If this is the first you are hearing of the Jewish Sabbath, I direct you to The Sabbath by Abraham J. Heschel.

 

So—Showboat….

In so many ways showboats and what takes place on them are the antithesis of my Shabbat experience. And yet… I was suddenly enchanted by the image of the old showboats gallantly moving down the river way. I imagine that after the speed of almost every one of our current conveyances, the feeling on the water in a showboat is not unlike the sudden pleasure and power of Shabbat for me.

And the river.

The river.

It works as a Shabbat metaphor.

Flowing through my life, ever present, ever powerful.

I can swim in it and I can float in it.

I can choose to sit on the banks or I can let it carry me in its currents.

 

And suddenly I hear Paul Robeson’s moving rendition of Ol Man River

O' man river,

Dat ol' man river,

He mus'know sumpin'

But don't say nuthin'

He jes' keeps rollin'

He keeps on rollin' along