Rabbi Arthur Waskow, director of the Shalom Center at Philadelphia’s Alliance for Jewish Renewal, began with a union slogan from the 1880s: “Eight hours for work, eight hours for sleep and eight hours for what we will.” But the “eight hours for what we will” must be eight hours of free, liberated time, argued Waskow, if we are to have a liberated people and community. Most Americans are working harder and longer than 20 years ago. The eight-hour day has been stretched. We cannot have spiritual growth, healthy families, or healing neighborhoods, without free time. Even the essentials of our democratic society like grassroots organizing are impossible without free time.
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Overwork crosses lines of culture, religion, and economics and affects everyone. But Waskow said the idea of Sabbath invites people everywhere to come together. Since most religious communities are defined by their “time for the Spirit,” all religions can jointly focus on what it means to rest, to recover and to renew. Once society is reconnected with the practice, it can be turned into public policy. Two secular examples for employers would be limiting compulsory overtime, and allowing released time for community service. “Work would become sacred if it were infused with free time,” he said.
Leviticus 26 asks: If the earth doesn’t rest, what will happen? Scripture answers: The earth is forced to rest by famine, by drought, by exile, by disaster. If humankind does not join in the restfulness, it will become broken. Waskow invited participants to help create this world where rest is as important as work. He welcomed suggestions via e-mail to Freeourtime@aol.com