“Judaism teaches us to be attached to holiness in time, to be attached to sacred events, to learn how to consecrate sanctuaries that emerge from the magnificent stream of a year. The Sabbaths are our great cathedrals…”
— Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

I don’t know about you but for me these days of social distancing, working and learning (and teaching) from home have already begun to distort my sense of time. I spent a good deal of Thursday thinking it was Wednesday.

But tonight will feel different and I won’t be at all confused about what day it is.

When we gather to light candles with our family (or join in our communal Zoom candle lighting), when we join together virtually for Friday night services at 6:15 p.m., when we sit with family (or connect with others virtually during our meal), we will know that Shabbat has finally arrived.

May we find holiness in these days and may we have the strength and discipline to make Shabbat into a great cathedral, a palace in time.

—Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback