be prepared for the Sabbath, for "one who delights in the Sabbath is granted their heart's desires" (BT, Shabbat 118a-b). All Jewish denominations encourage the following activities on Shabbat: Reading, studying, and discussing Torah and commentary, Mishnah and Talmud, and learning some halakha and midrash. Synagogue attendance for prayers. Spending time with other Jews and socializing with family, friends, and guests at Shabbat meals (hachnasat orchim, "hospitality"). Singing zemiroth or niggunim, special songs for Shabbat meals (commonly sung during or after a meal). Sex between husband and wife. Sleeping. Special Shabbat Special Shabbatot are the Shabbatot that precede important Jewish holidays: e.g., Shabbat HaGadol (Shabbat preceding Pesach), Shabbat Zachor (Shabbat preceding Purim), and Shabbat Shuvah (Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur). In other religions Christianity Most Christians do not observe Saturday Sabbath, but instead observe a weekly day of worship on Sunday, which is often called the "Lord's Day". Several Christian denominations, such as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church of God (7th Day), the Seventh Day Baptists, and others, observe seventh-day Sabbath. This observance is celebrated from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. Samaritans Samaritans also observe Shabbat. Lunar Sabbath Some hold the biblical sabbath was not connected to a 7-day week like the Gregorian calendar. Instead the New Moon marks the starting point for counting and the shabbat falls consistently on the 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th of each month. Biblical text to support using the moon, a light in the heavens, to determine days include Genesis 1:14, Psalm 104:19, and Sirach 43:6-8 See references: Rabbinic Jewish tradition and practice does not hold of this, holding the sabbath to be based of the days of creation, and hence a wholly separate cycle from the monthly cycle, which does not occur automatically and must be rededicated each month. See kiddush hachodesh. See also List of Shabbat topics Baqashot Jewish greetings Jewish prayer #Prayer on Shabbat Shmita Uposatha References Bereshit (parashah) Friday observances Hebrew calendar Hebrew words and phrases Saturday observances Working time