What did Jewish people do to pass time?

Answer 1

Jews who have free time tend to take up hobbies much the same as anyone else. I knew one Hasidic Rabbi who was an avid horseback rider. I know another who has run marathons. I know Jewish model railroaders, stamp collectors, rare book collectors, sculptors, readers and gardeners. But many Jews also use their leisure time for a distinctly Jewish activity: Talmud study.

Answer 2

The Jewish liturgy for Shabbat is considerably more elaborate than the weekday liturgy. There are additional psalms added Friday night, the Saturday morning liturgy takes well over 2 hours in an Orthodox or Conservative synagogue, and there is an afternoon service also, although many Jews don't go to the synagogue for this. Shabbat dinner on Friday evening is usually the most elaborate meal of the week, starting with a blessing over the wine and bread (kiddush), and if a family can only afford one meat meal a week, this is it. The Saturday morning service ends with another kiddush blessing over wine and bread, and in many synagogues, this is expanded to a communal luncheon. The closing element of Shabbat observance is a blessing and ritual called Havdalah at nightfall Saturday night, praising God for separating the sacred and profane.