‘Shabbat 250:’ President Proclaims National Shabbat Honoring America’s 250th Birthday
For the first time in American history, a sitting president has called on the nation to observe a Shabbat.
As part of the White House’s Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation, signed on May 4, President Donald Trump designated the period from sundown Friday, May 15, through nightfall Saturday, May 16, as a national Shabbat, dubbed “Shabbat 250.”
“In special honor of 250 glorious years of American independence and on the weekend of Rededicate 250 — a national jubilee of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving — Jewish Americans are encouraged to observe a national Sabbath,” the President wrote. “From sundown on May 15 to nightfall on May 16, friends, families, and communities of all backgrounds may come together in gratitude for our great Nation. This day will recognize the sacred Jewish tradition of setting aside time for rest, reflection, and gratitude to the Almighty.”
Invoking President George Washington’s seminal letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, and Revolutionary era financier Haym Salomon, President Trump paid tribute to the role Jewish Americans have played in the United States since its earliest days.
“This month, we celebrate the contributions that Jewish Americans have made to our way of life, we honor their role in shaping the story of our Nation, and we remember that religious devotion, learning, and service to others are enduring pillars of a thriving culture. Through every trial and triumph, the contributions of Jewish Americans have shaped our past, have strengthened our communities, and will continue to inspire American greatness for generations to come.”
The Sanctity of Shabbat
Shabbat is the cornerstone of the Jewish faith. The fourth of the Ten Commandments is: “Remember [Zachor] the Shabbat day to keep it holy … for G‑d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh” (Exodus 20:8). It is the one day in a week designated as a rest from the material concern and stresses of the week to instead concentrate on the spiritual purpose of life — to serve G‑d through the Torah and Mitzvot. In Deuteronomy 5:12, the Torah states: “Observe [shamor] the Shabbat day to keep it holy.”
The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, explained that observing Shabbat draws G‑d’s blessings into every day of the week that follows. “‘The holiness of Shabbat goes together with the blessing of Shabbat,” the Rebbe wrote, “as Torah declares: ‘And G‑d blessed the Seventh Day and made it holy.’” The blessings of Shabbat, both spiritual and material, he continued, flow “not only in the day of Shabbat, but also in all the days of the week.”
Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of Houston and YJP Houston, welcomed the “Shabbat 250” initiative.
“Keeping Shabbat is always a beautiful and important thing,” he said. “It is taught that if the Jewish people only kept two Shabbats, Moshiach would be here — and the time for that has already come. Shabbat 250, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, is a beautiful idea. It’s the perfect opportunity to unplug and connect with G‑d, your family, and your community in a real and meaningful way.”
