Sabbatical or a
sabbatical (from
Latin:
sabbaticus, from
Greek:
sabbatikos (σαββατικός), from
Hebrew:
shabbat (
שבת) (i.e.,
Sabbath), literally a "ceasing") is a rest from work, or a break, often lasting from two months to a year. The concept of sabbatical has a source in
shmita, described in several places in the
Bible. For example, in , there is a commandment to desist from working the fields during the seventh year. Strictly Speaking, this means a sabbatical would last one year.