"The Most Holy Thing I've Ever Seen": Why James Lindsay's Jerusalem Shabbat Video is Breaking the Internet
"It's Like the Heartbeat of the Week": Why the Internet is Falling in Love with James Lindsay’s Reflection on the Jerusalem Shabbat
James Lindsay, the prominent American author, mathematician, and anti-Communist thinker, has just inspired tens of thousands online with a heartwarming reflection on his recent experience of Shabbat in Jerusalem.
The video, which has already surpassed 50,000 views on X, offers a rare, "goyish" perspective on the transformative power of the Jewish day of rest.
The "Voluntary Stillness" of a Global Capital
Lindsay, known for his rigorous critiques of postmodern and marxist ideologies, recently extended a trip to Israel specifically to immerse himself in the Sabbath. He described the experience not as a religious requirement, but as a "voluntary peace" chosen by a free people.
"The cars disappear, the sirens stop, and suddenly you hear birds chirping and crickets in the middle of a major city," Lindsay recounts in the video. "It’s voluntary, people choose this peace."
Accompanied by serene footage he filmed from a Jerusalem balcony, Lindsay paints a vivid contrast between the frantic energy of Friday morning, where markets are packed with people buying challah, produce, and wine, and the profound stillness that descends at dusk.
For Lindsay, Shabbat in Jerusalem serves as a powerful testament to the beauty of a free society. He drew parallels between Israel's collective pause and the American values of liberty.
"Witnessing an entire city pause by collective will, it’s unbelievable," he noted, urging his followers to visit the capital just to witness the phenomenon. "If you get the chance, stay over the weekend in Jerusalem. Experience it."
The response to Lindsay's video has been overwhelmingly positive, reaching far beyond his usual political audience. From Jerusalem to the United States, viewers have shared how the video provided a moment of much-needed serenity.
A Global Reminder
As the video continues to trend, it serves as a "feel-good" reminder that even amidst chaos, moments of chosen stillness can unite people across cultures and creeds. In the words of Lindsay himself, the Shabbat experience in Jerusalem is truly "the heartbeat of the week."
Shabbat Shalom, indeed.