Scene of the crime: Jerusalem, Institute for Psychoanalysis. Time of the crime: Sabbath morning. A murder case—albeit a fictional one—in the novel by Israeli author Batya Gur. Inspector Michael Ochajon is on the trail of the killer…

This novel won the German Crime Fiction Award in 1993. Its title: “For on the Sabbath You Shall Rest.”

Another “crime story” actually took place and is not yet over. It, too, is closely intertwined with the land of Israel. Solving it takes us through Jerusalem several times. The numerous murders in this “crime story” did not necessarily occur on a Sabbath, but they were committed because of the Sabbath—and the hero’s name is also Michael. Our title: “For on the Sabbath You May Rest.”

The Sabbath, the oldest day of rest in history, was celebrated 52 times a year for millennia, but for the past few centuries, it has been observed 104 times—that is, twice a week: on Saturday and Sunday. What happened? Was one day a week not enough? Or was there another plan behind this? How is this “Sabbath inflation” connected to the many murders in various countries? The victims were Sabbath martyrs—people who observed the Sabbath on Saturday.

The story does not unfold in the public spotlight but goes unnoticed by most people. Uncovering the perpetrator requires mental acuity and a certain amount of perseverance. But it’s worth it.

At the heart of the document

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is the Sabbath … You shall not do any work—neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor the stranger who is within your gates.” (Exodus 20:9–10)

A quote from the Sabbath commandment right in the middle of the Decalogue. Revealed about 3,500 years ago on Mount Sinai. The centerpiece of a list of ethical standards that have influenced legislation around the world to this day. The original, inscribed on stone tablets, is said to have been hidden in a cave somewhere in the Middle East over 2,500 years ago and remains untraceable to this day (2 Maccabees 2:5).

Sabbath—one day a week of rest and renewal. Does this affect quality of life? One day a week of connecting with nature. What does that mean for planet Earth? One day a week of peace. What are the consequences for social interaction?

For on the Sabbath you shall rest. An opportunity not to be missed. A gateway to unimagined possibilities, timeframes, and experiences.

But why is there confusion among most people about which day of the week—the seventh—is the Sabbath? And does it even matter?

Coming Soon: The Sabbatical

Work-related stress often reaches levels that pose a health risk. That’s why more and more employees and self-employed people are taking a sabbatical. The sabbatical year was originally a year of rest in the agriculture of ancient Israel. After six years of cultivation, the fields lay fallow in the seventh year, and the farmers also had less to do. However, those who take a Sabbath each week reap the health benefits immediately, not just after several years.

The Journey

So come along on a journey into the past, present, and future—a journey across different countries and continents! We’ll leaf through ancient texts and travel along the information superhighway.

As we solve our criminal cases, we’ll eventually arrive at a complete picture that will help us better understand the developments of the coming years. You’ll likely think back to this issue time and again when you hear certain news stories in the media in the future. Then you’ll know that reading this magazine was well worth your while. After all, it will have put you in the know a little earlier than many others—and thus better prepared to make one decision or another.

Who knows—maybe this issue will even lead you to the encounter of a lifetime!? We would, of course, wish that for you with all our hearts.

Keep reading!

The entire special issue as a PDF!

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