I sensed immediately that the instructor, a wiry man who can readily fold into a pretzel after 30 years of teaching the art of Tao, considered me a challenge.

Was it immediately obvious to him, I wondered, that my only incentive to bend quickly to the floor would be to pick up a chocolate chip cookie? 

He implored me to stretch, to reach, to relax. Only then could I breathe correctly. Breathe. Breathe. I wanted to tell him: But I do breathe correctly. 

I do it outside of this classroom, inside my home. I do it once a week. On a day called Shabbat. 

It was my husband Barry’s idea to take our Jewish ancestors up on their perceptive idea to jump out of the rat race one day a week. I fought him. I hated the idea. If I already couldn’t get everything done in seven days, how could I possibly catch up in six? 

But those early Jews — they were on to something. They understood that we needed to… breathe. 

So, as a family, we made a commitment. Now, when Friday evening comes, I have certain guarantees: 

• There will be challah, soft, sweet, and delicious, made by my daughter, Sydney, who learned from her grandmother. 

• There will be prayers, led these days by our son, Noah, who is preparing to become a Bar Mitzvah.

• There will be songs, led by our five-year-old daughter Carly Bess who, for a moment, can stop wondering why no one in her kindergarten class celebrates Hanukkah.

For one blessed night a week, we separate ourselves from the hectic world and focus on being a family. A Jewish family. Yes, we will bend, to bless our children. Yes, we will stretch, to more clearly understand our heritage. Yes, we will relax, because there is no one waiting for us. And, yes, we will breathe, because we have wisely created space in our souls to make room for the Sabbath. 

Gail Rosenblum is an editor and writer at the Minneapolis StarTribune. This piece was originally presented at a service focused on Shabbat at Beth El Synagogue in Minneapolis. She is married to Barry J. Davis and has three children, ages 15, 12, and 6.

In our Passover issue, we told you about a new book I am Jewish based on the last words of the murdered Jewish Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl. On our website we have created a location for you to add your comments about what "I am Jewish" means to you. Please visit www.beingjewish.org/guest/guestbook.html and write. 

After our article appeared we heard from Daniel Pearl’s mother, Ruth. She asked us to let our readers know about the third annual Daniel Pearl Music Day, a global network of concerts from October 8 to October 17, 2004 that uses the universal language of music to promote Harmony for Humanity. 

Centered on Danny’s birthday, October 10, Daniel Pearl Music Day continues his life work by connecting thousands of diverse groups around the world through words and music. During last year’s Music Day, 230 concerts in 29 countries dedicated their performances to the ideals for which Daniel stood. This year they hope for even more. 

You can go to http/www.danielpearlorg/musicday04 for more information.

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