ShabbatShabbat

© Karen Devine 2008

What is Shabbat?What is Shabbat?• There are many Jewish There are many Jewish

religious festivals and religious festivals and holy days which are filled holy days which are filled with spiritual with spiritual significance, including significance, including Passover.Passover.

• The Sabbath or The Sabbath or ShabbatShabbat is the commandment is the commandment given by God that the 7th given by God that the 7th day is for rest and day is for rest and worship.worship.

• One wears their best One wears their best clothes on Shabbat.clothes on Shabbat.

• One eats off their best One eats off their best dishes and table wear at dishes and table wear at Shabbat.Shabbat.

What is Shabbat?What is Shabbat?• Orthodox Jews apply this Orthodox Jews apply this

commandment very strictly by not:commandment very strictly by not:a) Cookinga) Cookingb) Writingb) Writingc) Drivingc) Drivingd) Turning lights on and offd) Turning lights on and offe) Handling moneye) Handling moneyf) Doing businessf) Doing businessg) Other weekday activitiesg) Other weekday activities

• Orthodox observation of these Orthodox observation of these practices increases the practices increases the significance of significance of ShabbatShabbat for them. for them.

• Lights and appliances must be set Lights and appliances must be set for the turning on and off of lights.for the turning on and off of lights.

The Shabbat RitualThe Shabbat Ritual ShabbatShabbat begins at begins at

sunset on Friday and sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on ends at sunset on Saturday evening.Saturday evening.

The table is set with The table is set with two candles which two candles which represent the two represent the two commandments:commandments:

a) Zachor (Remember)a) Zachor (Remember)b) Shamor (Observe)b) Shamor (Observe) Bread (challah) is Bread (challah) is

baked in advance for baked in advance for the meal. the meal.

The Shabbat RitualThe Shabbat Ritual

At 18 minutes At 18 minutes before sunset the before sunset the lighting of the 2 lighting of the 2 candles occurs by candles occurs by the woman of the the woman of the household.household.

She waves her She waves her hands over the hands over the candles, places her candles, places her hands over her hands over her eyes and prays. eyes and prays.

Kabbalat ShabbatKabbalat Shabbat The family begins The family begins

Shabbat by attending the Shabbat by attending the Synagogue for the Synagogue for the evening service. evening service.

They are engaging in They are engaging in Kabbalat Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming of the (welcoming of the Sabbath).Sabbath).

When arriving home, the When arriving home, the husband then blesses his husband then blesses his wife and children by wife and children by reciting reciting KiddushKiddush (prayer) (prayer) for them over a cup of for them over a cup of wine. wine.

The Shabbat MealThe Shabbat Meal

The Challot The Challot (special bread) is (special bread) is uncovered, uncovered, blessed and blessed and distributed.distributed.

The Shabbat The Shabbat meal is then meal is then eaten. It is eaten. It is usually Cholet, a usually Cholet, a form of stew.form of stew.

Shabbat WorshipShabbat Worship

At the conclusion of the meal, a special prayer is said- At the conclusion of the meal, a special prayer is said- the the birkat-ha-mazon.birkat-ha-mazon.

On Saturdays, there is more worship at the synagogue, On Saturdays, there is more worship at the synagogue, more meals and visiting of friends and family. more meals and visiting of friends and family.

There is also an afternoon synagogue service and the There is also an afternoon synagogue service and the final Shabbat meal. final Shabbat meal.

The HavdalahThe Havdalah

The The havdalahhavdalah or or Shabbat prayer Shabbat prayer is the recited is the recited which ends which ends Shabbat.Shabbat.

Havdalah is a Havdalah is a separation or separation or division.division.

What is havdalah?What is havdalah?• HavdalahHavdalah involves: involves:a) A blessing over winea) A blessing over wineb) A blessing over spices (reminding b) A blessing over spices (reminding

us of the sweetness of Shabbat)us of the sweetness of Shabbat)c) A blessing over 2 twisted candles.c) A blessing over 2 twisted candles.• The Shabbat has ended. The Shabbat has ended. • It is distinguished from the rest of It is distinguished from the rest of

the week. There is some sadness at the week. There is some sadness at it ending. it ending.

• Jews then pray to Elijah who will Jews then pray to Elijah who will announce the coming of the announce the coming of the Messiah.Messiah.

• Shabbat is a time when Jews Shabbat is a time when Jews appreciate the gifts they have been appreciate the gifts they have been given from God.given from God.

Question TimeQuestion Time

Explain the Explain the significance of significance of the following the following items which are items which are used at Shabbat.used at Shabbat.