The benefits of Shabbat are immeasurable: rejuvenation, connection, and so much more. But, check out these travel-related benefits of Shabbat. They may surprise you!
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We are all accustomed to the tremendous benefits of Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest. And we can’t imagine our lives any other way. When we go on vacation, much of our planning might even revolve around the question: Where Are You Spending Shabbos? Shabbat while traveling, however, has so much more to offer even in terms of your trip planning and itinerary–some obvious and some less so. And you’ll return home with a renewed appreciation for this beautiful gift. (Jump to the itinerary planning benefits.)
In fact, most articles you’ll read about travel planning discuss the idea of incorporating a rest day at least once a week into your travels. How novel 🤔!
Rest and Renewal
Shabbat offers an unparalleled opportunity to just stop. Oftentimes, especially when traveling and wanting to get everything in, we are in perpetual go-go-go mode. One of the benefits of Shabbat is that we have a built-in opportunity to take a break and recharge. I am not suggesting that you sleep for 25 hours straight. But, I am advocating for slowing down and reconnecting.
Be in the moment. Rav Chaim Friedlander of Ponevez Yeshiva, in Siftei Chaim, said that we should go into Shabbat saying to ourselves that “it’s all done”. Meaning, that since there’s nothing more we can do right now on the project/job we are working on, we might as well view it as completed. Otherwise, we’re liable to spend the whole Shabbat thinking and worrying about what we have to get back to afterward. Whereas if “it’s done”, then we can be in a state of tranquility and satisfaction.
Reflection and Mindfulness
Some people reading this may be raising an eyebrow at the word “reconnecting”, since Shabbat is when we disconnect from technology. But, it is precisely that disconnecting that creates the space for introspection and reflection. This allows us to [re]connect with our true selves. To use a popular buzzword, it allows for mindfulness.
However, sometimes you really do just need a good nap! (But make sure that if you are going to be someone else’s guests, you don’t fall asleep at the table.)
Connection and Similarity
Another benefit of Shabbat is the opportunity to connect with your family. This is true even on Shabbat at home. However, at home, we often have various social obligations. For example, a kiddush or shalom zachor to attend. Also, your kids have their friends that they want to spend time with. On vacation, especially if you’re making Shabbos on your own and not within another community, there isn’t any of that. You can spend uninterrupted time learning Torah together, playing board games, and discussing highlights of the previous week. This is an example of both quality and quantity time.
Amazing Lasting Family Memories Game
Traveling provides a unique opportunity to connect with Jewish communities and people around the world. People with whom you may not ordinarily cross paths. Experiencing Shabbat in different communities provides a chance to appreciate the fact that our similarities are really much greater than our differences. But, we have also benefited from learning about different customs in different communities.
My kids have had the opportunity to play and make friends with kids all over. My son has attended a Daf Yomi Shiur in all different types of shuls–big and small. I’ve spoken to various groups of women on multiple continents. And we have had a wonderful time connecting with locals and getting local tips on things to see and places to visit.
Although you can do all this during the week, Shabbos is really when people have the time to slow down and connect. (Are you noticing a theme?)
Shabbos on the road has truly shown us that we, The Jewish People, are all one big family.
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Deadline and Destination
Regardless of where you are and what you are doing, Shabbos is coming. (We’re so happy–What? You don’t have that song playing in your head now?) So, make a plan as to where you plan to be. This is where itinerary planning is one of the benefits of Shabbat. In an earlier article, I wrote about planning long trips in one-week increments (Multi-Week Road Trip Planning Hack–although the title has to do with road trips, the theory holds true for all types of trips.)
You’ll have a deadline (however much time before Shabbat you are comfortable arriving) and a destination. You should have this planned in advance of your trip–whether this is a hotel/vacation rental reservation or home hospitality. No matter how much wandering off the beaten path you do during the week, the fact that you have a place you need to be and a time at which you need to be there, you’ll be back on track. You won’t run the risk of being thousands of miles from home the day before you have to be back since you’ll “catch up” each Friday.
No Guarantees
But just remember: no matter how much planning you do, nothing is guaranteed. One week we were headed toward Palo Alto for Shabbos. It was around 4 o’clock Thursday afternoon, we were only about 6 hours north of Palo Alto. So we decided to spend a few hours near a local river. Let the kids run around, swim a little, and have some dinner. No problem. And we’d even still have plenty of time to tour the Jelly Belly Factory in the morning.
We had a great time and a filling meal. (And helped save a life…but that’s a story for another time.) Then we got back on the road.
It may have been a large multi-lane interstate highway, but about a half-hour south of where we had stopped, it was a complete parking lot! We spoke to the truckers, who were also stopped. They said that about a half mile further south an 18-wheeler had flipped over the center divider onto another 18-wheeler in oncoming traffic. The road would be closed for at least another 12 hours! (Protip: truckers have the most detailed maps, access to the most up-to-date traffic information, and the best alternate route suggestions. Their livelihood depends on it.)
There was one alternate route (8 hours instead of 5 or 6), but that was closed too due to a bushfire. So, we inched our way off the highway and pulled into the parking lot of a government office that was closed for the season. We decided to get the kids ready for bed while we continued to monitor the traffic. There was one other route option. We could head back north and loop around through Oregon–14 hours of driving to get to Palo Alto. At this point, it would be tight to make it for Shabbos.
We were resigned to spending Shabbos in the parking lot in Dunsmuir (population 1700). My kids were talking about it being the first time Shabbos would be kept in this area. Good thing we always have a box of matza and a bottle of grape juice with us! Shabbos is Shabbos wherever you are.
But, we had actually planned to be in Palo Alto for Shabbat since we had to return the RV to Los Angeles on Sunday. Our Shabbat location was part of our itinerary ensuring we’d be on track for Sunday. But, Hashem had other plans. (Really much longer story short, but we actually made it to Palo Alto for Shabbos–and even the Jelly Belly factory Friday morning! Crazy story…)
Catch-Up and Reset
Another aspect of itinerary planning that is a benefit of Shabbat is being able to catch up and reset. Sometimes things do go awry.
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Or, as mentioned above, you get distracted and off track along the way. So, you end up rushing to make it to your destination by your deadline. In order to make it in time for Shabbos, you ended up skipping so much of what you planned for that week. And on top of that, now you’re wiped out!
So, you can sleep over Shabbos. Rest, relax, rejuvenate, reset, or anything else you can think of that starts with “re-“. Just kidding, but you get the point.
But you know what happens Sunday morning? You’re exactly where you had planned to be at that point in the trip! And just like that you’re back on track. And well rested (RE-freshed–sorry I had to throw that in).
Cross Country in 3 Days?? With Kids?!?!
Without Shabbat, you may still have caught up by Sunday morning, but you probably would not have done so 36+ hours earlier. And, it is precisely during this time that you are able to disconnect and RE-charge and RE-connect. Furthermore, the peace of mind you are able to attain from the “it’s done” mindset of Shabbat will RE-new you for the week to come.
Bonus: Chinuch Opportunities (ie: Teachable Moments)
We all know that the example we set is far more powerful a lesson than what we actually say. It is an extremely powerful lesson for your kids to see that a big part of your planning is ensuring that Shabbos is treated with the respect it is due. It speaks volumes when they see that no matter how exciting of an itinerary you have planned, it can all get scratched in order to make Shabbos in an appropriate and timely manner.
Whether you decide to spend Shabbat in a community or completely on your own, you have a tremendous opportunity to impart lasting values. If you are on your own, you can teach your kids that you have standards that you adhere to regardless. The way you observe Shabbat is not dependent on those around you.
If you decide to spend Shabbat in a community, often times it may be hours “out of the way” of the rest of your route. Your kids will see the effort you put in to spend Shabbat with a community.
The benefits of Shabbat are immeasurable, with some unique for travelers. Even if you’ve been observing Shabbat your whole life, you can still gain a new appreciation for its beauty and benefits. Embrace Shabbat on the road and it will enhance your travel experience in unexpected ways.
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