Shabbat-eng.docx

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Shabbat is the Jewish Sabbath, celebrated every week from sundown on Friday to nightfall of Saturday.

In Hebrew, Shabbat means "resting." As is recounted in the beginning of the Book of

Genesis, G-d created the world in six days and on the seventh He refrained from creating. Adam and

Eve celebrated the first Shabbat in the Garden of Eden.

The observance of Shabbat by the Jewish nation is mandated in the fourth of the Ten Commandments.

We sanctify the Shabbat and "rest" on this special daydefined by abstention from 39 forms of creative

activity.

Practically, how is Shabbat observed and celebrated?

Briefly:

As cooking and baking is not allowed on Shabbat, much of the food preparation is done in advance.

Shabbat is ushered in on Friday afternoon with the lighting of candles by women and girls. Following the

special Friday night Shabbat evening prayers (preferably in the synagogue) we partake of a festive meal

which is opened by the Kiddush blessing over a cup of wine or grape juice, and the Hamotzieblessing

over two whole loaves of bread called Challah. The sumptuous meal is an integral part ofoneg Shabbat,

"delighting in the Shabbat." So we eat fish and salads, chicken or meat and other delicacies. (Click

here for traditional recipes.)

On Shabbat morning it's prayer time againthis service also features theweekly public Torah reading.

After the prayers we again enjoy a delicious festive meal, complete with Kiddush and Hamotzie. Some

time in the afternoon we enjoy a somewhat smaller meal, called Seudah Shlishit. Shabbat ends after

nightfall and is marked with the brief Havdalah, (separation) service which marks the departure of the

holy day of rest.

On Shabbat we take a break from our mundane weekly activities. It is a time to regroup and pray, to eat

and rejoice, to spend time with family and friends, to study and shareto indulge and pamper our

spiritual side.

What:

Every mitzvah introduces light into the world. With certain mitzvot, the light we generate can actually be

seen and appreciated. Lighting candles to usher in the Shabbat is one such mitzvah; the candles lend a

soft and peaceful atmosphere to the holy Day of Rest.

Who:


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Shabbat candles are traditionally a womans mitzvah. The woman sets the tone of the household; it is

her task and G-d-given ability to ensure that light and harmony prevail in her home.

Put some money in a charity box before lighting the candlesGirls begin lighting

Shabbat candles when they can recite the blessing (approx. three years of age).

A man should light the candles if no adult woman is present.

When:

Light the candles eighteen minutes before sunset. Click here for candle-lighting times for any date and

location.

How:

Young girls light before their mother.

Place the candles on or near the Shabbat dinner table.

Put some money in a charity box before lighting the candles.

Until marriage, women and girls light one candle. Post-marriage, women light two candles.

Some add an additional candle for each child, so that, for example, a woman with three children

lights five candles.

The procedure:

1. Light the candles.

2. Extend your hands and draw them in a circular motion toward yourself, and cover your eyes.

3. Say: Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai Elo-hei-nu Me-lech ha-olam, asher kid-sha-nu bmitz-vo-tav vtzi-

vanu lhad-leek ner shel Shabbat Ko-desh.

[Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His

commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.]

4. Candle-lighting time is auspicious for private prayer. While your eyes are covered, take a

moment to pray for whatever your heart desires.

5. Take a moment to pray for whatever your heart desiresUncover your eyes

and greet your family: Good Shabbos, orShabbat Shalom.

Technical notes:

Once a woman recites the blessing, she has ushered in the Shabbat. From that point on, she

may not engage in any activity that is forbidden on Shabbat.

The candles and candlesticks may not be moved until the conclusion of Shabbat.


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Electric bulbs can be used as Shabbat candles where an open flame is not possible, such as in

a hospital.

Shabbat Prayers I

Six days a week we work, eat, sleep, exercise . . . and we also pray. Then, on the seventh, we pause to

reconnect with the Creator. Now prayer is not just another item on the task list; its part of the days

definition. Without the pressures and distractions of the workweek, we become more contemplative and

focusedjust the state required for real prayer.

Greeting the Shabbat

As evening descends, we greet the holy day with Kabbalat Shabbat(Welcoming the Shabbat). In most

congregations, this service starts with six psalms (representing the six days of the week), followed by a

deeply mystical song to joyously welcome the Shabbat Queen, Lechah Dodi. This is followed by another

two psalms that relate to Shabbat. Next comes either a selection from the Zohar that discusses the

mystical dynamics of Shabbats entry, or the recitation of a chapter of theMishnah comprising some basic

Shabbat lawsdepending on custom.

As evening descends, we greet the holy day with Kabbalat Shabbat

Kabbalat Shabbatis followed by the standard evening service, adapted to the spirit of the day, including

the ShabbatAmidah. After this, the congregation chants the biblical verses about G-d creating the world

in six days and resting on Shabbat. This is followed by a brief Shabbat prayer, one more psalm, and the

service concludes with theAleinu hymn.

Something you will likely notice: The weekdayAmidah comprises nineteen blessings; the

ShabbatAmidah, only seven. The thirteen middle blessings beseeching G-d for our needs would jar with

the tranquility of Shabbat, so we replace them with one blessing proclaiming the holiness of the Shabbat

and thanking G-d for this precious gift.

(Note: The preferred venue for prayer is the synagogue. Can't make it? G-d listens to all prayers that

come from the heart. And it is certainly preferable to pray at home on Shabbat than to desecrate the holy

day by driving to the synagogue.)

KiddushWine Before You Dine

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Shabbat enters with words of wonder poured upon rich

wine, to fulfill the verse, Remember the Sabbath day to

sanctify it.

We call it kiddush, a ritual of words and drink, a magical

bridge from the harried weekday to the day of rest. So

enchanted we are by the kiddushthat we repeat it again in

a different form by day. The kiddush serves as the kickoff

for the evening and daytime Shabbat meals.

The nighttime kiddush consists of three parts: 1) Three

verses from Genesis that recount how G-d rested on the

seventh day and sanctified it. 2) The blessing for wine. 3)

A blessing thanking G-d for giving us the Shabbat.

A magical bridge from the harried

weekday to the day of restThe

daytime kiddush consists of several verses from Exodus, followed by the blessing on wine.

Kiddush how-to:

1. On Friday night, sing the Shalom Aleichem, to welcome the Shabbat angels, and the ode to the

Woman of Valor.

2. Rinse and dry the kiddush cup. Fill it to the brim with kosher wine.

3. Gather everyone to stand around the Shabbat table. Raise the wine-filled cup in your right hand

(unless you are left-handed), and recite thekiddush aloud.

4. On Friday night, gaze at the Shabbat candles as you say the first four words. Then look at the

wine in the cup while saying the wine blessing.

5. All in attendance answer Amen at the conclusion of the blessings.

6. Drink at least 1 ounces from the cup. Everyone else should also have a sip.

Technical details:

Wine is preferable, but kosher grape juice is okay.

Dont eat or drink beforekiddushstarting from sundown of Friday night, and after the prayers

on Shabbat morning.

If no wine or grape juice is available, recite the kiddush on challah or bread. Just replace the

wine blessing with the bread blessingand wash hands before the kiddush.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/610626/jewish/Kiddush.htmhttp://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/610626/jewish/Kiddush.htm


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Once someone has sipped from a cup of wine, the leftover wine should not be used

forkiddush unless some fresh wine is added to the cup.

Uplifting Food

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"Call the Shabbat a delight"Isaiah 58:13.

On the weekly Shabbat (Sabbath), we rise above

the workweeks distractions and frustrations, and

focus on higher goals, such as G-dand family. We

delight in the Shabbat by partaking of three

meals, when families can bond and be inspired.

The first two Friday night and Shabbat lunch

are lavishly prepared, with sumptuous foods and

special dishes. The third, taken towards

Shabbat's end, is usually a lighter repast.

The Preliminaries:

The table is bedecked with an elegant

tablecloth, Shabbat candles, the "special" dishes,

and two covered challahs. The first two meals open with the kiddush, recited over a cup of wine.

After the kiddush, ritually wash your hands for bread. The head of the household takes the

challahs, scores one of them with a knife, says theHamotzie blessing, and slices a loaf.

Everyone eats a piece of challah dipped in salt.

The Food:

Splurging on the Shabbat meals is a virtue. It's amitzvah to indulge

in fine wine and tender meatSplurging on the Shabbat meals is a virtue. It's a

mitzvah to indulge in fine wine and tender meat.

The traditional Shabbat meal is multi-coursed, and includes fish, soup, meat or poultry, and side

dishes. (Serve fish and meat/poultry as separate courses, on separate cutlery and dishes.) For

the lunch meal, it is customary to eat "cholent," a casserole-like dish prepared before Shabbat

and kept warm overnight on the stove.

Song and Inspiration:

Enjoy quality family time. Get caught up in singing spirited Jewish songs. The special, holy

feeling they imbue is indescribable. Share words of Torah. Prepare a thought for discussion,

perhaps something on the week's Torah reading. Capture your children's imagination with

a Jewish story.

Conclude with Grace After Meals.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/707109/jewish/Shabbat-Meals.htmhttp://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/707109/jewish/Shabbat-Meals.htmhttp://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/707109/jewish/Shabbat-Meals.htmhttp://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/707109/jewish/Shabbat-Meals.htmhttp://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/707109/jewish/Shabbat-Meals.htm


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