Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, observed by Jews and some Christians as a day of rest and worship. Most Christians call Sunday the Sabbath. In Biblical times, the Sabbath was a joyous, holy day. People stopped working, went to Temple, and gave extra sacrifices. One of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20: 8-11) requires resting on the Sabbath.
Jews took observance of the Sabbath seriously. They suffered many losses and insults rather than break the Sabbath laws. In the Oral Law, 39 kinds of labor were forbidden. These included the procedures related to growing, preparing, and cooking food; weaving and making clothes; slaughtering animals and preparing hides; writing; building; carrying things from one location to another; and lighting fires.
Many Jews still keep strict Sabbath regulations. Their Sabbath lasts from sunset Friday evening until nightfall Saturday, at the time when it is calculated that three stars could be seen in the evening sky. Most Christians observe Sunday as the Sabbath because they believe Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Sunday (see Sunday ). The Seventh-day Adventists, a Christian denomination, observe Saturday as the Sabbath.
