Every week, for the 25 hours beginning just before sundown on Friday until after night has fallen on Saturday night, Jewish people celebrate Shabbat, a period of rest and spiritual rejuvenation.
“He who toils on the eve of Shabbat,” say the sages, “will eat on Shabbat.” Shabbat is treated as an honored guest, and Friday (or even Thursday night) in a Jewish home is dedicated to preparing for her arrival. For this reason, in addition to calling it yom shishi (“the sixth day”), Jews refer to Friday as erev Shabbat, the “eve of Sabbath.”