What is Shabbat?
Shabbat is the Jewish Day of rest. The word comes from the Hebrew word meaning cease or rest and also from the word meaning seven, ie: the seventh day of the week.
Why Do Jews Have Shabbat?
Think of the unique and special day of your year …your birthday of course!
For Jews, Shabbat is a similar feeling only it’s one that we get every single week!
Shabbat is like the birthday of the whole world. It’s celebrated to remember the Creation story at the beginning of Genesis, the first book in the Old Testament.
It tells us that God worked for six days making everything on Heaven and Earth then on the seventh day, He rested.
To remember this, Jews work during the week and then stop on Shabbat. We thank God for everything He did and still does.
Shabbat is not a choice – it’s an obligation as commanded by God in the forth of His most important rules, the Ten Commandments.
It is also part of the Covenant that God made with the Jews and an important sign of one’s identification as a Jew. (See The Jewish Concept of God).
To me, the ethos of Shabbat is summed up in the following prayer:
You (God) inspired our ancestors to hallow this day for Your service. When upon its coming we pause to contemplate our life, we learn anew that we do not live by bread alone, but also by the spiritual nourishment we receive when we open ourselves to Your influence. We thank You for the Sabbath day and for the opportunity it offers to enhance the quality of our lives. We thank You for its joy and for its peace. May our worship help us to take into our hearts its message of holiness, and consecrate all our days by devotion to what is true, beautiful and good.
How Do Jews Welcome Shabbat?
In my Article on the Torah, it explains that there are 613 rules governing Jewish life. These rules are interpreted and practised in varying degrees. (See Subdivisions within Judaism).
Shabbat is a prime example of this.
There are actually 39 types of work forbidden on Shabbat according to the Torah. The most Orthodox Jews will not even put on a switch (the making of an electrical circuit equates to ‘kindling a fire’), cook or handle money. More Reform and Progressive Jews may do these things but keep the main ethos of Shabbat in other ways. Their view is that the nature of work has changed considerably over the centuries and that some bans have no relevance today. Their aim is to preserve the spirit of the Commandment by make the day restful and different to the other six working days.
It is interesting to note that what is construed as work for some may be considered as enhancing Shabbat. For example, gardening, reading or playing a musical instrument. Also driving, forbidden by Orthodox Jews, may be the only way of attending Synagogue.
Above all, these are decisions of personal choice, religious integrity and commitment.
When is Shabbat?
Shabbat begins at sunset every Friday evening with a ceremony called Kiddish. It is celebrated until sunset Saturday evening when it concludes with Havdalah..
What happens on Shabbat?
Preparation for Kiddish
Jews really look forward to Shabbat every week – more than just the weekend coming!
Some Jews leave work or school early Friday afternoon to get home to prepare. It’s interesting to note that by law, employers and managers have to allow this.
Sometimes we wear white clothes (white being the colour of purity and holiness) and we wash our hands for cleanliness and to show respect to God before we pray.
The table will be laid with a beautiful white tablecloth often embroidered with Jewish symbols such as the Star of David or a Menorah. The tablecloth below also has words in Hebrew meaning ‘in honour of the Shabbat and Festivals.’
Often there will be a Tzedakah (charity box) on the table. The family are very thankful for their lives and will donate money to remember those less fortunate.
Three Blessings to welcome Shabbat:
The Candles
We have two white candles to represent the two parts of the fifth Commandment – Remember the Sabbath day AND Keep it holy.
It’s traditional for the mother to say the blessing over the candles. It’s the first blessing because it reminds us how light was God’s first creation.
Once the candles are lit, no further work is permitted until Shabbat ends.
The Blessing over the Candles
We praise You Lord Our God, King of the Universe. You sanctify us by Your Commandments and command us to kindle the Sabbath lights.
(Version for youngsters).
We praise You Lord Our God, King of the Universe. You make us feel special by following your rules and you tell us to light the Sabbath lights.
The Kiddish Cup and Wine
The Kiddish cup is made of silver, porcelain or crystal. It is often decorated with grapes and engraved in Hebrew with the blessing over wine. The Kosher Kiddish wine is for adults only! It’s similar in taste to sweet sherry or port. Under 18s have grape juice or a ‘pretend’ wine such as blackcurrant squash.
The father will hold up the Kiddish Cup and say the blessing. Other family members have a small glass each- this is not to quench one’s thirst- it’s a token amount to thank God for creating drink.
The Blessing over the Wine.
We praise You Lord Our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
The Challah Bread
Jews bless the Challah (pronounced as in ‘loch’) bread which is under the Challah cloth.
Traditionally there are two loaves representing the Bible story when extra ‘Manna’ was collected before Shabbat as work was forbidden the following day. Challah is plaited to make the shape special. Imagine using your normal Tesco’s loaf – not special or different at all!
The bread is slightly sweetened with honey or sugar symbolising the sweet joy and happiness of Shabbat.
Once the Challah has been blessed, we share it out and eat it. Some families will not cut it with a knife but break it up with their hands. ( Knives can be used as weapons of war).
Some Jews sprinkle a little salt on it because salt was rare in olden days. It was saved up to make the Challah even more special. Of course this isn’t relevant nowadays as we use salt liberally. But it is an example of a Jewish tradition still carried out to remind us of our past.
The Blessing over the Challah.
We praise You, Lord Our God, King of the Universe, who causes food (bread) to come forth out of the earth. (as written on the Challah board below).
Blessing Over Children
May God bless you and guard you. May the light of God shine upon you and may God be kind to you. May the presence of God be with you and grant you a life of health, joy and peace.
Greeting on Shabbat
Shabbat Shalom! – I wish you a peaceful Sabbath.
What’s Next…
The Meal
The 3 blessings over candles, wine and Challah are often followed by a Blessing over the children (see above) and the singing of Shabbat songs. There will then be a traditional Jewish meal.The food may or may not be Kosher depending on the degree of Orthodoxy practiced in the home. Some traditional Shabbat dishes are chicken soup and kneidlach (Matzah dumplings). This is widely renowned as ‘Jewish penicillin’- the cure for all ills! We may also eat a beef stew called Cholent, (pronounced as in ‘loch’) or perhaps fried fish or salmon. Sometimes we eat produce from Israel, the Jewish homeland.
Recipes are often passed down from generation to generation and/or taken from Jewish cookbooks (see Traditional Jewish Recipes).
Where Do Jews Go on Shabbat?
Synagogue
There are Services held in Synagogue both on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.
Anyone is welcome although sadly nowadays visitors should pre-book for security reasons.
In Orthodox Synagogues men sit either at the front or to one side, separated from the women. Women may even be seated upstairs in the gallery if there is one. This is because men and older boys are obligated to pray whereas women are traditionally the homemakers. There is also the matter of women being too distracting! (See Subdivisions within Judaism).
Orthodox services are led by a male Rabbi and/or a Cantor who will chant the prayers.
In more Progressive Synagogues women have complete equality so everyone will sit together. There is also usually a choir and often an organ. I have fond memories of growing up at Bromley Reform synagogue with my mum singing beautifully accompanied by my dad on the organ!
Nowadays there are several Reform and Progressive lady Rabbis.
The Siddur (prayer book) contains both Hebrew and English. Prayers focus on praising God and giving thanks for His Divine gift of Shabbat. Services last from an hour and a half to a few hours.
The Reading of the Torah
(See also Torah)
This is the most important part of the Shabbat service. The Torah portion (Parasha) will have been set to that particular day as it is read in a yearly cycle. The Torah is taking out of the Aron Hakodesh (the Holy Ark) with much ceremony. It is then literally ‘undressed’ before being read in both Hebrew and English. Then the Haftarah is read. This is a reading in English from the Books of the Prophets, themed to the Torah reading.
The Torah is ceremoniously carried in a procession around the Synagogue before being replaced in the Holy Ark. Usually the children who are under Bar/Bat Mitzvah age will follow the Torah onto the Bimah and be blessed by the Rabbi.
This is such a special moment and gives the children a close connection to the proceedings.
The Rabbi will then give a Sermon, generally based on the Torah reading. The service concludes with the Kaddish (traditional mourners’ prayer), more prayers and hymns.
Most Synagogues have a childrens’ crèche and/or Religion School called Cheder (literally ‘room’). This may be held on Sunday instead and is our equivalent of the Christian Sunday School.
After the service the congregation move from the Sanctuary to a meeting room. Here a communal Kiddish ceremony takes place – the Rabbi leads the Blessings over wine and Challah and both are shared out. This is followed by a catch up and gossip with our friends and family!
Sometimes there is an ‘Oneg Shabbat’ -literally ‘Pleasure of Shabbat’. This could be a communal meal or a cultural film or discussion. Sometimes these are in aid of charity.
Conclusion of Shabbat
Havdalah
This is a truly beautiful ceremony that happens at sunset on Saturday. The word means separation ie: Shabbat is over and being ‘separated’ from the new working week.
The Blessings for Havdalah:
The Kiddish Wine
The wine is passed around and shared and then poured into the Kiddish Cup until it overflows onto the saucer. This symbolises our wish that the happiness of Shabbat will also ‘spill over’ into the new week and last until the next Shabbat.
The Blessing over the Wine
We praise You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
The Spice Box
This is filled with sweet spices such as cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. It reminds us of the sweetness and joy of Shabbat. We pass this around so everyone can smell it and keep that feeling inside us until next Shabbat.
The Blessing over the Spice Box
We praise You Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates many fragrant spices.
The Havdalah Candle
The Havdalah candle can be plain or coloured. It is made up of six thin candles plaited or twisted together. These represent the six days God created the world and the working days of the week.
The Blessing over the Havdalah Candle
We praise You Lord our God, King of the Universe, who creates the flames of fire.
The Havdalah Blessing
We praise You Lord our God who separates light from darkness, the holy from the everyday and Shabbat from the rest of the week.
The candle is then extinguished by putting it in the saucer of spilt wine.
We then wish each other a ‘Shavuah Tov!’ – a good week!
Havdalah engages all of our five senses.
SIGHT- the spectacular flame of the six braided Havdalah candle.
TOUCH- feeling the Kiddish cup
SOUND- the sound of the Blessings and the sizzle of the candle being put out in the spilt wine at the end. This symbolises the joy of Shabbat ‘spilling over’ to keep us happy until next Shabbat.
TASTE- the sweet taste of the Kiddish wine or grape juice
SMELL- the sweetness of the Spice Box symbolising the happiness of Shabbat.
Summary of Shabbat
In this section we have examined this special weekly celebration- what it is and why, how and when it happens. We’ve also looked at the artefacts and blessings involved. We’ve investigated the part the Synagogue plays as the hub of the Jewish community. This article also highlights how practice varies according to affiliation to a particular branch of Judaism. (See Subdivisions within Judaism).
