The Hebrews call the Sabbath Shabbat. It is
one of the best known but least understood of
all Jewish observances. Many think of the Sabbath
negatively to be associated with “killjoys”
who want a day filled with suppressing restrictions.
To appreciate the Sabbath day with God we need
to get rid of this negative image. To those
who observe Shabbat, it is a precious gift from
God, a day of great joy eagerly awaited throughout
the week, a time when one can set aside all
of their weekday concerns and spend time for
spiritual enrichment.
Observant Jews translate this command into
practical observance by refraining from any
act of creation or destruction on the Sabbath.
Shabbat is a day devoted to rest, reflection,
prayer and Torah study. The order of the activities
vary, especially among non-Orthodox communities—just
as Thanksgiving varies in American homes.
Friday Afternoon
In traditional Jewish homes, Sabbath preparations
begin well before sunset on Friday evening.
Cooking and cleaning are typical Friday afternoon
affairs. It is much like preparing for the arrival
of a special guest: the house is cleaned, the
family bathes and dresses up, the best dishes
and tableware are set, a festive meal is prepared.
Strict Jews remove the light bulb from the
refrigerator (so it does not turn
on when you open it), set timers for appliances
to come on, etc. There are
even elevators in Israel that will automatically
open on Sabbath so a Jew
does not have to push a button.
Friday Night Shabbat Dinner
Sabbath begins at sunset. Shabbat candles are
lit and a blessing is recited no later than
eighteen minutes before sunset1. This ritual,
performed by the woman of the house, officially
marks the beginning of the Sabbath.
The most picturesque tradition associated with
the Sabbath is the candle
lighting. The candle lighting marks the beginning
and end of all Sabbaths,
weekly or annual celebrations.
The tradition of lighting candles to begin
and end the Sabbath started in a
very practical way. Scripture says, “You
shall not kindle a fire in any of
your dwellings on the Sabbath day” (Exodus
35:3). In ancient times, the only form of light
available at night was an oil lamp or candle.
In order to have the supply of oil burn longer
into the Sabbath, the lamps were lit at the
very last moment before the Sabbath began -
at or before the beginning of
sundown. Once they burned out, they could not
be relit until after the
Sabbath was over. That time is marked by the
lighting of the Havdalah candle (described below)
(Taylor 1996).
Some families attend a brief evening service.
In many synagogues, the Friday evening prayers
are recited at dusk. After services, the family
comes home for a festive, leisurely dinner.
Before dinner, the man of the house recites
a prayer over wine (Kiddush) sanctifying the
sabbath. There are no specific requirements
or customs regarding what to eat except for
the challah bread, a sweet, eggy bread shaped
in a braid. Covers made of linen or other fine
fabric are used for covering the Sabbath loaves
(challah covers). They are often embroidered
with words such as “In honor of the Sabbath”
or another relevant phrase, decorative floral
patterns, or Sabbath themes.
Blessings
A beautiful Shabbat tradition is the parental
blessing. The father places
both hands on each child as he says a blessing
over them. Examples:
A traditional Jewish blessing for a son is:
May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.
A traditional Jewish blessing for a daughter
is: May God make you like Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel
and Leah.
Or a personal blessing is said for each child
using a format similar to this:
“May God bless you with ___________ and
________________. May you be (like) ___________
and _________________. May this Sabbath fill
you with _____________ and ______________.
Some families say a husband and wife blessing.
Husbands read Proverbs
31:10-31 to their wives and wives read Psalm
112 to their husbands.
Then everyone joins hands and sings or recites
a phrase similar to the
following: May Adonai bless you and guard you.
May Adonai shine Divine light upon you and be
good to you. May Adonai face you and give you
peace.”
Saturday
Many Jews spend Saturday morning in the synagogue.
Upon returning home, traditional Jews repeat
several of the Friday evening customs as they
enjoy their Sabbath lunch. Cooking is prohibited
on Shabbat so lunch is usually prepared the
day before (in crock pot or slow cooker).
Saturday afternoon is unstructured, designed
for relaxation and visiting.
Activities include: telling uplifting stories
at meals, studying the weekly
Torah portion (individually, as a family or
with friends, or in a special
class or study) reading other suitable study
materials, taking a nap, playing
games with the children, a walk in the park,
worship services, telling
stories, singing songs, visiting relatives and
friends, and if possible,
visiting the sick, the shut-in, and the elderly.
In the evening, when three stars are seen, the
Havdalah service is performed.
Saturday Evening Havdalah Service
The Havdalah ceremony is held on the Sabbath
evening just after dark. This is a man-made
short ceremony to formally mark the end of Shabbat.
The Hebrew word havdalah means separation or
distinction. The following items are used to
perform the ceremony: a cup of wine, a braided
candle, and a box of sweet-smelling spices.
Participants stand close together in a circle.
Blessings are said over each
item as they are passed around the circle. The
wine is poured until it
overflows and then the cup is lifted up again.
Psalm 116:13 is recited: I
will take the cup of Salvation and call upon
the name of the Lord. Then the
braided candle is lit. It is customary for the
child to hold the candle. A
blessing is said over the wine. The spices are
shaken and passed around for all to enjoy the
aroma. A blessing is said over the spices. The
wine is
passed around for everyone to sip. The candle
is extinguished in the
remaining wine as the final blessing is said.
The ceremony is concluded with a song.
