Jews called back to Sabbath

SAN DIEGO -- The leader of Reform Jews is spearheading a campaign for greater observance of a 24-hour Sabbath, including increased attendance at Saturday morning worship.

"In our 24/7 culture, the boundary between work time and leisure time has been swept away, and the results are devastating," said Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie, speaking at the biennial convention of the Union for Reform Judaism last month.

"Do we really want to live in a world where we make love in half the time and cook every meal in the microwave?"

Yoffie said "stressed-out, sleep-deprived families" can benefit from abstaining from wage-earning work and reflecting on life. "We are asked to stop running around long enough to see what God is doing," he said.

Yoffie's proposal includes recommendations that congregations set up task forces to study their own Shabbat morning service and those of other congregations, and then suggest how to enhance their services. Since 1869, Reform Jews have observed a Shabbat Eve service on Friday nights.

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