Great Regulars: The tradition begins with the Judaic concept

of Shavath--a day set aside from the others, when meals are elaborate and slowly savored, when poetry and music are enjoyed, when families gather to tell stories. It's also a day of reflection, which includes prayer and meditation, a celebration of the spirit. It's not that Israel has kept Shavath, as the saying goes, but that Shavath has kept Israel.

from Jay Parini: Vermont Public Radio: Cultivate Leisure

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