Rabbi Gabriel Botnick on a route to Shabbat happiness

This past Shabbat, as the temperature was approaching 30 degrees, I sat down to enjoy my first Aperol Spritz of the season. Immediately, I felt as if I were on holiday – enjoying a good book while fending off the heat with a deliciously refreshing drink.

Of course, we are well aware of the Pavlovian connection between the senses and memory. The faintest trace of a perfume can conjure vivid memories of long-past loved ones. Or, as Proust mused in his writing, biting into a madeleine can lead one to recall long-forgotten childhood experiences. Our sages even note that in the Torah’s various descriptions of manna, this heavenly food would remind people of different things based on their life experiences: to the elderly it brought to mind memories of rich, decadent cakes, while to the young it evoked the flavour of sweet cream. All of which is to say, it’s no surprise that a Spritz can help me revisit the sands of Sicily from the comfort of my own sofa.
It’s worth acknowledging that such sensory triggers tend to elicit recollections with particularly strong emotional associations – great joy or anger, profound love or sadness. For me, connecting with my family while on summer holiday is when I am happiest and most content. Without distractions from the outside world or the demands of work, I can allow myself to relax and be fully present with my wife and kids, building memories that help power me through the busy weeks and months ahead. And so, while others might view a cheeky weekend cocktail as a mere refreshment, for me it is a portal to a headspace of happiness.

This might be why, when the rabbis of the Talmud discuss the ways they find joy on Shabbat, they invariably mention their favourite foods. One rabbi finds pleasure through a fish roasted with beetroots and garlic, while another says he prefers snacking on fried whitebait. The idea being, I believe, that by indulging in sensory delights on Shabbat, one is transported in one’s mind to a realm of utter bliss and tranquillity. And it is specifically on Shabbat – a day free of demands, spent however we wish – that this mental holiday is made possible.

Whatever you have planned for this summer – whether a trip to a far-off land, morning swims in the ponds, or simply some time off from your usual routine – I hope it helps you gain a renewed sense of joy, contentment, and vigour. But more importantly, I want to encourage you to identify some sensory experience – a particular drink or snack, the fragrance of a flower or melody of a song – that you’ll be able to revisit once your daily grind resumes. So that later in the year, when you are in desperate need of a quick escape, you can satisfy that need by enjoying an indulgent Shabbat afternoon.