Sabbath
Sabbath (Shabbat) is the day of rest (c.f., creation and the 10 Commandments).
When does a Jewish “day” start?
- A day begins at sunset (evening), not midnight.
- This comes from Genesis 1: “there was evening and there was morning…”
Sabbath timing (Shabbat):
- Begins: Friday at sunset
- Ends: Saturday at nightfall (when three stars are visible)
Sabbath meals:
- Main Sabbath meal: Friday evening (right after sunset) → often called Shabbat dinner
- Second meal: Saturday midday
- Optional third meal: Late Saturday afternoon (before sunset)
Ending the Sabbath:
- Marked by a short ceremony called Havdalah after nightfall Saturday
In simple terms:
- Sabbath = Friday evening → Saturday evening
- The “day” is counted evening → morning → next evening
Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread
The Passover is one day, I believe. It begins in the evening (as above) with the Seder Meal. Then the Feast of Unleavened Bread follows (I think the Passover is day 1 of 7). Unfortunately this is some ambiguity here. First, the question, if this is a 7-day festival or an 8-day festival (I believe different Jewish traditions vary on this, see below). Secondly (and perhaps more importantly), the specific day of the Passover (in particular, the Passover/Seder meal). I believe the synoptic gospels and John do not fully agree on this.
Regarding the Passover and Holy week. Here is a possible scenario (Note: there are other theories):
Fri evening: 9 Nisan (Sabbath meal-John 12, Jesus goes to the house of Mary, Marth, and Lazarus)
Sat evening: 10 Nisan – 10 Nisan is Saturday evening and all day Sunday. This is the Triumphant Entry – Palm Sunday.
Sun evening: 11 Nisan
Mon evening: 12 Nisan
Tue evening: 13 Nisan
Wed evening: 14 Nisan begins → preparation day
Thu evening: 15 Nisan begins → Passover Seder*. This is the Last Supper. 15 Nisan goes all day Friday. Jesus is crucified on 15 Nisan.
*According to Matthew 26:17-19, Mark 14:12-16, and Luke 22:7-15 this was the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Passover (Seder) meal. Matthew 26:17 Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where will you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover?”
Wikipedia says, “In Israel, Passover is the seven-day holiday of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, with the first and last days celebrated as legal holidays and as holy days involving holiday meals, special prayer services, and abstention from work; the intervening days are known as Chol HaMoed (“Weekdays [of] the Festival”). Jews outside of Israel celebrate the festival for eight days. Reform and Reconstructionist Jews usually celebrate the holiday over seven days.
I need to get Michael Rydelnik’s opinion on all this.
