Because Shabbat is a day
of rest, it is traditional not to perform any work on this day. Work has
been defined broadly over the centuries so as to prohibit a wide range of
activities among people who are very observant. For example, the Biblical
prohibition on the creation of fire on Shabbat has come to be defined among
the Orthodox and the very observant to extend to a prohibition on turning
on light switches or electrical appliances. Other activities from which it
is traditional to refrain on Shabbat include carrying, plowing, reaping,
baking, dyeing wool, sewing, slaughtering animals, driving a car, or
anything that involves the creation, production, or transformation of an
object.
Shabbat is a central
part of the Jewish family and Jewish life. It is a time for families and friends
to gather for meals, prayer, and relaxation together. Because all Jewish
holidays begin in the evening, Shabbat begins at nightfall on Friday
evening and ends approximately 24 hours later, or nightfall on Saturday.
Friday night allows for people to gather for the Friday night meal, a meal
that often includes singing and sometimes dancing.
The traditions
associated with Shabbat range from the lighting of the candles just before
sunset on Friday, to the blessings over the wine and bread on Friday evening,
to the third meal or Shalosh Seudot, to the observance of Havdalah on
Saturday night as the Shabbat departs. One of the most important customs is
the setting of the Shabbat table, usually adorned with a white tablecloth,
two Challahs, usually covered with a beautiful Challah Cover covering, a
Kiddush Cup and Shabbat Candlesticks, symbolizing our welcoming of the
royalty of Shabbat.On the holy Shabbat, whose inner meaning is the
spiritual elevation of all the worlds.. the Shabbat candle serves to symbolize
the elevation of the soul and of holiness. (Divrei Chayim)
INDEX
Candlelighting
Shalom Aleichem
Eishet Chayil
Blessing of the
Children
Friday Night
Kiddush-Blessing over the Wine
Washing for Bread
Ha-motzi-Blessing over
the Bread
Zemirot-Songs for
Shabbat
Devar Torah-A Word of
Torah
Shir Ha-maalot-Song
Preceding Grace after Meals
Mayim
Acharonim-"Final Waters"
Birkat Ha-mazon-Grace
after Meals
Instuctions on
lighting!!!
First light the
candles. Then spread your hands out placing them around the candles, drawing
your hands toward you in a circular motion three times to indicate that you
are accepting the sanctity of Shabbat. You then cover your eyes and recite
the blessing:
BO-RUCH A-TOH ADO-NOI
E-LO-HEI-NU ME-LECH HO-OLOM A-SHER KI-DE-SHO-NU BE-MITZ-VO-SOV VE-TZI-VO-NU
LE-HAD-LIK NER SHEL SHA-BOS KO-DESH. Translation: 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.
Uncover your eyes and
look at the sparkling Shabbat lights.
The Shabbat candles
must be lit 18 minutes before the sunset. It is prohibited and is a
desecration of the Shabbat to light the candles after sunset.
After the recitation,
many take special time to thank G-d for the many blessings of health,
prosperity, and joy in their lives. There is also a special prayer composed
by women, for women, which many include at this time:
May it be Your will,
Lord my G-d and of my fathers, to be gracious to me (and to my husband and
children) and to all my family, crowning our home with the feeling of Your
divine presence dwelling among us. Make me worthy to raise learned children
and grandchildren who will dazzle the world with Torah and goodness, and
ensure that the glow of our lives will never be dimmed. Show us the glow of
Your face and we will be saved. Amen.
HOW TO:
Shema Yisrael, Adonoy
Elohaynu, Adonoy Echad"
"Hear Oh Israel, The
Lord is God, The Lord is One"
It is said in our
prayers every morning and evening, and even young children are taught to
recite it before bedtime.
SHALOM ALEYCHEM
There are seven gates
to the soul-- two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, and a mouth. The Creator
blessed the seventh day of the week and sanctified it. It is therefore
fitting that the mouth-- which is the seventh gateway-- give praise,
through song, prayer and Torah learning all through the day. Rabbi Moshe
Azulai
The table is set with
the finest china, crystal and silver. (When it comes to Shabbat, nothing is
saved for "a special occasion", for this is the special
occasion.) Those who went to shul have now returned, and the room is filled
with the warm sounds of "Good Shabbos" greetings. Everyone is
invited to the table, as we begin the meal with song.
SHALOM ALEYCHEM
Each verse is
customarily sung three times:
Welcome, ministering
angels, messengers of the Most High, of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy
One, blessed be He.
Come in peace,
messengers of peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High, of
the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
Bless me with peace,
messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the Supreme King of
Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
And may your departure
be in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High, of the
supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
Singing the praises of
The Almighty is especially appropriate for Shabbat. As it is written:
"A psalm, a song for the Shabbat day. It is good to give thanks to the
Lord and to sing to Your name, Most High." Psalm 92
HOW TO
1. Although only a
custom, Ayshes Chayil is sung at every Shabbat table throughout the world.
2. The men at the
table sing for the women present.
AYSHES CHAYIL
A Woman of Valour, who
can find? She is more precious than corals. Her husband places his trust in
her and only profits thereby. She brings him good, not harm, all the days
of her life. She seeks out wool and flax and cheerfully the work of her
hands. She is like the trading ships, bringing food from afar. She gets up
while it is still night to provide food for her household, and a fair share
for her staff. She considers a field and purchases it and plants a vineyard
with the fruit of her labors. She invests herself with strength and makes
her arms powerful. She senses that her trade is profitable, her light does
not go out at night. She stretches out her hands to the distaff and her
palms hold the spindle. She opens her hands to the poor and reaches out her
hands to the needy. She has no fear of the snow for her household, for all
her household is dressed in fine clothing. She makes her own coverlets; her
clothing is of fine linen and luxurious cloth. Her husband is known at the
gates, where he sits with he elders of the land. She makes and sells
linens; she supplies the merchants with sashes. She is robed in strength
and dignity and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth with wisdom
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks after the conduct
of her household and never tastes the bread of sloth. Her children rise up
and make her happy; her husband praises her: "Many women have
excelled, but you outshine them all!" Grace is elusive and beauty is
vain, but a woman who fears God--she shall be praised. Give her credit for
the fruit of her labors and let her achievements praise her at the gates.
It is beautiful to
bless your children every Friday night, a moment filled with love and
meaning, especially when one understands the source behind such a
tradition.
HOW TO
1. There are different
customs in different homes. Some people get up and go to their children's
place, others have the children come to them. In some homes the father
gives the blessing to each child, in others it is both parents.
2. In either case, the
hands are placed on the child's head and the following blessing is recited
appropriate for the girl or boy:
(If the child is not
present, the blessing is still recited, as one does not have to be there to
be blessed...Or, as someone once said, blessings are like Superman, they go
through walls)
BLESSING OF THE
CHILDREN
For a son:
Y'simcho elohim
k'efrayim v'chimnasheh.
May God make you like
Ephraim and Menasha.
For a daughter:
Y'simaych elohim
k'soroh, rivkoh, rochayl v'lay-oh.
May God make you like
Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.These women, sensitive, insightful and
self-sacrificing, all shared a special relationship with The Almighty, and
used the gifts that He gave them for the good of others and the Jewish
people.
When we bless our
daughters Friday night, we are asking God to endow them with the qualities
of their foremothers, and we remind ourselves what real giving is all
about.
For both continue:
May the Lord bless you
and watch over you. May the Lord shine His face toward you and show you
favor. May the Lord be favorably disposed toward you and may He grant you
peace.
Afterward, it's nice
to whisper something personal in each child's ear, praising some
accomplishment in the week, like a good mark on a test or playing nicely
with a kid brother. It's your moment with your child; use it as a way of
connecting in your own personal way.
Act I, Scene I.
Kiddush.
This is where it all
begins, with the first meal, and the first blessing over the wine. These
words, more than any others, are going to set the pace for Shabbat.
FRIDAY NIGHT KIDDUSH
(The first line is
recited quietly to one's self)
It was evening and it
was morning, the sixth day. So the heavens and the earth were finished,
with all their complement. Thus, on the seventh day, God had completed His
work which He had undertaken, and He rested on the seventh day from all His
work which He had been doing. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it
holy, because on it He ceased from all His creative work, which God had
brought into being to fulfill its purpose.
(Those present
respond, "Amen")
You are blessed, Lord
our God, the sovereign of the world, creator of the fruit of the vine.
("Amen")
You are blessed, Lord
our God, the sovereign of the world, who made us holy with his commandments
and favored us, and gave us His holy Shabbat, in love and favor, to be our
heritage, as a reminder of the Creation. It is the foremost day of the holy
festivals marking the exodus from Egypt. For-- out of all the
nations-- You chose us and made us holy, and You gave us Your holy Shabbat,
in love and favor, as our heritage. You are blessed, Lord, who sanctifies
Shabbat.
("Amen")
WASHING FOR BREAD
The concept of
holiness appears first in the Torah with reference to Shabbat. This is to
teach us that Shabbat is the root and foundation of all holiness in the
world. Be'er Moshe
The candles are flickering,
Shalom Aleychem and Ayshes Chayil have been sung, and kiddush has been made
for all those gathered around the beautiful Sabbath table.
Now it is time to
begin the meal. But first, we are invited by the host to step into the
kitchen to wash our hands in preparation for the eating of the challah.
No, this is not a call
for cleanliness, but an important step that will lead us to
"Hamotzie", the blessing that is said over the bread.
BLESSING OVER THE
WASHING OF THE HANDS
You are blessed, Lord our
God, the sovereign of the world, who made us holy with his commandments and
commanded us in the washing of the hands.
HAMOTZIE - THE
BLESSING AND EATING OF THE BREAD
And it came to pass
that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread (lechem mishneh),
two omers for each person, and all the rulers of the congregation came and
told Moses. And he said to them, "This is what the Lord said,
'Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Shabbat of the Lord. Bake that which you
will bake (today), cook that which you will cook (today), and that which
remains leave over until the morning.'"
And they left it over
until the morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not spoil. And Moses
said, "Eat it today for today is the Sabbath of the Lord. Today you
shall not find it in the field. Six days shall you gather it but the
seventh day is Shabbat-- there shall be none." Exodus 16
BLESSING OVER THE
BREAD
Boruch atoh adonoy,
elohaynu melech ho-olom, hamotzi lechem min ho-oretz.
You are blessed, Lord
our God, sovereign of the world, who brings forth bread from the earth.
("Amen")
D'VAR TORAH - A WORD
OF TORAH
Shabbat is especially
conducive to teaching Torah, since the Torah was given by God to Israel on
Shabbat.
Shabbat is the
celebration of creation. It is a day that we recognize that The Almighty
has a given us a wondrous gift-- a world filled with pleasure.
The challenge of
humanity is: how does one extract this pleasure for the ultimate life
experience?
By reading the manual.
The word Torah means
instructions. It is referred to as "Torat Chaim"-- Instructions
for Living. It is not just a history of our people, or a meaningless bunch
of "bible stories". It is the instruction manual that, read
properly, can give us the key to all the pleasures of life.
It is a book of wisdom
that has application to our lives today; to help us be better people,
better spouses, friends, children, parents. To help us get the most out of
this world, we look into something timeless; something practical and
relevant. We look to the Torah.
SHIR HAMALOS - FESTIVE
SONG PRECEDING THE GRACE AFTER MEALS
On Shabbat and Yom
Tov, and other occasions of celebration, we begin with the singing of
"Shir Hamalos", just before the bentching (from the Yiddish,
meaning "blessings"). This psalm was composed by King David, and
speaks of the Jewish people's ultimate return from exile to the Land of Israel.
There are many tunes
to Shir Hamalos, and if you're not familiar with them, try just about any
tune. It's one of those songs that works with just about anything.
"Hatikvah" (Israel's
National Anthem), is perfect!
There is also a
traditional tune for the rest of the bentching that helps people
familiarize themselves with the Hebrew. But remember, God understands
English and all languages. So feel free to express your thanks in the
language in which you feel most comfortable.
A Song of Ascents.
When the Lord brought Zion
out of captivity, we were like people in a dream. At the time our mouth was
filled with laughter and our tongue with cries of joy; at the time it was
said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for
them." The Lord had done great things for us; we were happy. Let our
captivity, Lord, be a thing of the past, like dried-up streams in the Negev. Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. The
man who weeps as he trails the seed along will return with cries of joy,
carrying his sheaves.
MAYIM ACHRONIM -
"AFTER WATERS"
With the meal at a
conclusion, it is time to thank God for our sustenance and for all the
blessings in our life.
Yet, before we bentch
(the saying of the Grace After Meals), we clean our fingertips. This is a
small ceremony called "Mayim Achronim", which literally means
"After Waters", or, as some call it, a "Jewish
fingerbowl".
Our blessings and
thanks at the end of the meal are directed toward God. He is King, and just
as one would dress in one's best if going before royalty, so does one act
appropriately when addressing The Almighty.
Before we handle
anything physically precious-- a silver goblet, a newborn baby, a priceless
artifact, we make sure our hands are clean. It is a recognition that
physical objects can have tremendous value.
Mayim Achronim
recognizes the tremendous value of the spiritual. Thus, before we approach
God and get in touch with all that He has given us; we clean our hands,
respectfully don our jackets, and give thanks.
BIRKAT HAMAZON - GRACE
AFTER MEALS
Appreciation brings
joy. When someone gives you a present, the appreciation of the gift is
directly linked to how much you know about it. What is it, where is it
from, how was it made, and who is giving it to you..?
And that is why, in
Judaism, we take the time to say blessings.
"Baruch
atah..." is the familiar start to the many blessings that we say.
"Baruch" is Hebrew for blessed, so it seems that we are continually
blessing God. Does God really need our blessings?
"Baruch" is
from the same root as "braycha", which means spring, where water
comes from. Their connection is that they are both about
"source".
When we say a bracha,
a blessing, we are acknowledging that everything has a source, and that
source is God. We are thanking Him, for He is the source of everything.
When we bentch (recite
the Grace After Meals), we are appreciating that this food came from Him,
and that gives the enjoyment of the meal a whole new meaning. We recognize
that we are truly blessed, and give thanks. The act of thanking helps us
recognize the source of this blessing. This recognition brings
appreciation, and appreciation brings joy.
God does not need our
blessings. We need our blessings, for they get us back in touch with the
root if it all. That knowledge of source is the foundation for the ultimate
in happiness.
A good meal now
becomes a connection to The Eternal.
HOW TO
When three or more men
have eaten together, one invites the others to join him in the Blessing
after the Meal:
2. Rabosai n'voraych.
My friends, let us say
the blessing.
The others answer
Y'hi shaym adonoy
may-atoh v'ad olom.
May the name of the
Lord be blessed from now and forever more.
The leader repeats
Y'hi shaym adonoy
m'voroch may-atoh v'ad olom.
May the name of the
Lord be blessed from now and forever more.
With the consent of
(my honored father and) (our host and) all present, let us bless Him (our
God) whose food we have eaten.
The others say
Blessed is He (our
God) whose food we have eaten and through those goodness we live.
3. You are blessed,
Lord our God, the sovereign of the world, who provides food for the entire
world in his goodness, with grace, kindness and mercy; He supplies bread
for all living beings, for His kindness is everlasting. Because of His
great goodness, we have never lacked food, nor will we ever lack it-- on
account of His great name-- since He is God who feeds and provides for all
and is good to all, and who supplies food for all His creatures which He
brought into being. You are blessed, Lord, who provides food for all.
4.You are blessed,
Lord our God, the sovereign of the world, who provides food for the entire
world in his goodness, with grace, kindness and mercy; He supplies bread
for all living beings, for His kindness is everlasting. Because of His
great goodness, we have never lacked food, nor will we ever lack it-- on
account of His great name-- since He is God who feeds and provides for all
and is good to all, and who supplies food for all His creatures which He
brought into being. You are blessed, Lord, who provides food for all.
5.We thank You, Lord
our God, for having given the heritage of a lovely, fine and spacious land
to our fathers, and for having brought us out, Lord our God, from Egypt,
and for rescuing us from slavery, and also for Your covenant which You
sealed in our flesh, as well as for Your Torah which You taught us, and
Your laws of which You told us, and for the life, grace and kindness You
have granted us, and for the food which You supply and provide for us
constantly, every day, all the time, and at every hour.
7. So for everything,
Lord our God, we thank You and bless You-- may Your name be blessed in the
speech of all living beings, constantly, for all time. For it is written:
"And you shall eat, and be satisified, and bless the Lord your God for
the good land He gave you." You are blessed, Lord, for the land and
for the food.
8. Have mercy, Lord
our God, on Israel Your people, on Jerusalem, Your city, on Zion the home
of your glory, on the kingdom of the house of David Your annointed one, and
on the great and holy house which is called by Your name. Our God, our
Father-- look after us and feed us, give us a livelihood and support us,
and provide a respite for us-- a respite for us, Lord our God, soon, from
all our troubles. And please, let us not be dependent, Lord our God,
neither on a gift, nor on a loan from a human being, but rather on Your
full, open, holy and generous hand, so that we should never feel
embarrassed or ashamed.
Special paragraph for
Shabbat:
9. Be pleased, Lord
our God, to strengthen us through Your commandments, especially the
commandment of the seventh day, this great and holy Shabbat. For this is
indeed a great and holy day for You; to rest and be at ease, with loving
concern for the command of Your will. So may it please You to grant us
rest, Lord our God, with no trouble, or unhappiness, or weeping on our day
of rest. And let us witness, Lord our God, the consolation of Zion, Your city, and the building up of Jerusalem, Your holy
city, for you are the Lord of redemption, and the Lord of consolation.
11. And may You build
up Jerusalem, the holy city, rapidly in our
lifetimes, You are blessed, Lord, who in His mercy, builds up Jerusalem. Amen.
12. You are blessed,
Lord our God, the sovereign of the world-- God who is our father, our king,
our mighty one, our creator, our redeemer, our maker, our holy one-- the
holy one Jacob; our shepherd-- the shepherd of Israel; the king who is good
and does good to all, who each and every day has been good, is good and
will be good to us. He gave, gives, and will always give us grace, kindness
and mercy, and respite, deliverance and success, blessing and salvation,
comfort, a livelihood and sustenance, and mercy and life and peace and
everything that is good-- and may He never let us lack anything that is
good.
**This is the end of
the bentching at the very minimum. The following are additional blessings, including
blessings for your family, that are, although optional, added by many at
each bentching**
13. The Merciful One--
He will rule over us forever. May the Merciful One be blessed in heaven and
on earth. May the Merciful One be praised for generation upon generation,
and may He be glorified through us forever and ever, and may He be honored
through us eternally. May the Merciful One grant us an honorable
livelihood. May the Merciful One break the yoke from our neck and lead us
upright to our land. May the Merciful One send a plentiful blessing on this
house and on this table at which we have eaten. May the Merciful One send
us Elijah the prophet-- who is remembered for good-- who will bring us good
tidings of salvation and comfort.
These personal blessings
are added according to the individual circumstances:
14. May the Merciful
One bless
for one's parents:
my honored father (the
man of this house) and my honored mother (the woman of this house) them,
together with their household, their children and everything that is
theirs.
for oneself and one's
own family:
me, my wife (my
husband), together with everything that is mine,
for one's hosts:
the man of this house
and the woman of this house-- them, together with their household, their
children and everything that is theirs,
for others present:
and all who are seated
here,
--us, together with
all that is ours, just as our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were
blessed--totally--so may He bless us, all of us together, with a complete
blessing, and let us say, Amen.
15. the man of this
house and the woman of this house-- them, together with their household,
their children and everything that is theirs,
for others present:
--us, together with
all that is ours, just as our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, were
blessed--totally--so may He bless us, all of us together, with a complete
blessing, and let us say, Amen.
16. May a plea be
heard on high, for them and for us, which will result in the security of
peace. So may we receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from
the God of our salvation. So may we find favor and understanding in the
sight of God and man.
On Shabbat:(read the
rest beginning with this)
17. May the Merciful
One bring us the day which will be totally Shabbat and rest, in everlasting
life.
18. May the Merciful
One make us worthy of experiencing the days of the Messiah and the life of
the world to come.
He brings about great
victories for His king and shows kindness to his annointed one-- to David
and to his descendants forever. He who makes peace in His high places, may
He bring about peace for us and for all Israel, and say, Amen.
19. Stand in awe of
the Lord, you who are His holy ones, for there is nothing lacking to those
who stand in awe of Him. Even young lions suffer want and hunger, but those
who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing. Give thanks to the Lord,
for He is good, for His kindness is everlasting. You open Your hand and
satisfy the desire of all living. Blessed is the man who trusts in the
Lord, and who makes the Lord the object of his trust. I was young and I
have become old, and yet I never overlooked a deserving man who was
destitute, with his children begging for bread. May the Lord give strength
to His people; May the Lord bless his people with peace.
You shall lack nothing
on the Sabbath.
Eat, be satisfied and
bless your God
whom you love, because
He has blessed
you beyond all
nations.
