In honor of the upcoming Shabbat Across America and Canada (This Friday!) Jewish Treats presents some of our original Treats about Shabbat.

Pikuach Nefesh is the mitzvah of saving a person’s life. Needless to say, it is one of the most important mitzvot one can perform. In fact, one is obligated to ignore the laws of Shabbat in order to save a life.

One of the subcategories of the mitzvah of pikuach nefesh is saving one’s own life, which requires that a person takes care of him/herself. In this vein, the National Jewish Outreach Program has been involved in a campaign encouraging people not to smoke on Shabbat. While intended for smokers, the recommendations apply to all:

12 Things To Do While Not Smoking On Shabbat.

1. Rest those weary bones – Catch up on your sleep.

2. Smother your family and friends with love. Have a nice long conversation with your spouse/children/parents/friends…whom you practically ignore all week.

3. Exhale the mundane cares and concerns of the workday week by saying a little prayer in synagogue for anything or everything.

4. Chill out with some wine (for Kiddush). Eat three gourmet Shabbat meals (and actually taste the food).

5. Wear your nicest clothes without worrying about ashes and smoke.

6. Clear your mind. Enjoy one day when even non-smokers love you.

7. Sing up a storm at the top of your lungs.

8. Savor a good – Jewish – book without interruption, or sneak a peek at the Torah portion of the week when nobody’s looking.

9. Get to know someone really important a whole lot better — yourself.

10. Make your cardiologist happy. Air out your lungs — go for a nice, long, leisurely walk.

11. Review the week’s Jewish news with family and friends.

12. Volunteer to visit patients in the hospital.

This Treat was originally published on November 7, 2008.

Get ready to celebrate Shabbat Across America and Canada on Friday night, March 2nd. Share your Shabbat Project on our interactive map and see how America lights up with everyone’s Shabbat Projects!

Copyright © 2012 National Jewish Outreach Program. All rights reserved.