Charlie Kirk’s Message to US Jews

Each Friday like clockwork, (pun intended) he opened what he affectionately called his junk drawer and stashed his cell phone inside. “Shabbat Shalom,” were his parting words spoken directly to his devices as he closed the door on the material world and, following biblical direction, he refocused on his spiritual self.

Observing Shabbat had become a way of life for him and his family and since 2021 this young man found blessings and peace in giving one day a week over to spiritual concerns. In fact Shabbat observance had become such an integral part of his family life that his next book (he was the author of many) due out in December 2025 will focus exclusively on the biblical exhortation to honor Shabbat.

A rabbinic sage? A modern Jewish scholar? A powerful Jewish voice that soars above denominational differences? Not at all. What’s fascinating about this man, is that as an evangelical Christian, he single handedly promoted Shabbat observance as the foundational principle of living a meaningful life. That’s right, Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA’s murdered founder and international voice for bible based Christianity made Shabbat observance a central part of his message.

Fascinating? Interesting? Certainly. But for me as a modern Jew, I’m mortified. Why? Because Shabbat is mine. It belongs to us Jews. What’s this Christian guy doing, making Shabbat his own and embarrassing us Jews in the process?

After all it was Cultural Zionist founder Asher Ginsberg who said “More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.” And it was Ginsberg who explained that Shabbat is not only a religious practice but the practice of incorporating Shabbat into the rhythm of one’s life preserves Jewish culture, Jewish community and Jewish identity.

So if Shabbat belongs to us, if Shabbat has its origins with our people, how are we doing with our God-given gift? Looking back 40 years to the mid 1980’s, 40 percent of US Jews reported that they lit Shabbat candles and observed Shabbat prohibitions “in some way.”

Fast forward to a recent US survey and the Shabbat observance among American Jews fell to 28 percent with some rabbis throwing in the towel and capitulating to the demands of modern life in the Diaspora. They ask their congregants to “observe Shabbat in your heart.”

Writing for My Jewish Learning, Rabbi Ira Eisenstein examines “Shabbat in the Modern World,” and states “In modern times, non-Orthodox Jews have largely abandoned Shabbat observance, despite many innovations intended to encourage it.”

So what has Shabbat become for us Jews? For some of us it’s a custom held over from visiting our bubby on Friday night. For others its part of shtetl folklore, a holy tradition steeped in Jewish culture that we’ve intellectualized from modern life. Divinely commanded? Hardly.

I know. I know. Let me save you some time with Mr. Google. An unapologetic supporter of Israel, (the Prime Minister called Kirk Israel’s “lion-hearted friend”), Charlie Kirk had been accused as having made remarks  that some characterized as antisemitic. But if we focus on those we’ve lost the opportunity to consider something vastly more important – we Jews and the legacy of our Shabbat. We gave the world Shabbat but for many of us modern Jews we’ve dropped the ball. Charlie Kirk and many of his Christian followers picked up the ball and they’re running with it.

In fact Charlie Kirk (sounding ever more Jewish) said that unplugging from our devices, turning off the screens, spending the day with family and friends is honoring the Sabbath. The benefits? Taking a Shabbat restores balance, reduces anxiety, and nourishes your soul. It’s not just a day of rest; it’s a lifeline to reclaiming what truly matters. Thanks, Charlie. Shabbat Shalom.