Reclaiming Rest for All

How can we ensure that all have the right to rest?

In my exploration of how we can reclaim rest, I’ve come to see that it is a mistake to treat Sabbath-keeping only as an individual spiritual practice. First of all, we are meant to embrace rest as a people— that means observing the Sabbath in the context of community. More broadly, in Exodus, the commandment of rest is extended to all—daughters and sons, servants and animals, family and strangers. The implications of this are profound. Throughout modern history, Sabbath principles have informed public policy in critical, tangible ways.

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Putting a Sabbath ethic into practice also extends beyond people to other species. My brother Chris Holbein is an incredible animal protection advocate, and he has dedicated his life and career to reducing animal suffering in the meat, egg, and dairy industries. Many have argued that modern day animal agriculture violates core Jewish and Christian values including biblical teachings that animals have a right to rest on the Sabbath and that we can’t treat animals as commodities - rather we must honor the sanctity of their lives.

We are in the middle of Lent, which is a period of self-examination, and repentance - as well as a time of lamentation. Even when we observe the Sabbath, we lament that rest is systematically denied to so many, and we confess and repent of our own actions that contribute to these inequities and injustice.

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How can we embrace a Sabbath ethic so that all are ensured the right to rest?

Join the conversation by sharing on social media using the hashtag #reclaimingrest

You can also download a free resource on 5 Ways We Can Reclaim Rest which includes more on this topic.

Kate Rademacher