Celebrate Shabbat Erev

TRADITIONAL:::

Two candles are generally lit, representing the two commandments zachor and shamor; but one is enough, and some light seven or more.

The family then attends a brief evening service (45 minutes - that is brief by Jewish standards - see Jewish Liturgy).

After that service, the family comes home for a leisurely, festive dinner.

Before dinner, the man of the house recites Kiddush, a prayer over wine sanctifying the Sabbath.

The usual prayer for eating bread is recited over two loaves of challah, a sweet, eggy bread shaped in a braid. The family then eats dinner.

Although there are no specific requirements or customs regarding what to eat, meals are generally stewed or slow cooked items, because of the prohibition against cooking during the Sabbath. (Things that are mostly cooked before Shabbat and then reheated or kept warm are OK).

After dinner, the birkat ha-mazon (grace after meals) is recited. Although this is done every day, on the Sabbath, it is done in a leisurely manner with many upbeat tunes.

By the time all of this is completed, it may be 9PM or later.

The family has an hour or two to talk or study Torah, and then go to sleep.

The next morning Shabbat services begin around 9AM and continue until about noon.

After services, the family says kiddush again and has another leisurely, festive meal.

A typical afternoon meal is cholent, a very slowly cooked stew.

A recipe is below.

By the time birkat ha-mazon is done, it is about 2PM.

The family studies Torah for a while, talks, takes an afternoon walk, plays some checkers, or engages in other leisure activities.

A short afternoon nap is not uncommon.

It is required to have a third meal before the Sabbath is over.

This is usually a light meal in the late afternoon. Shabbat ends at nightfall, when three stars are visible, approximately 40 minutes after sunset.

At the conclusion of Shabbat, the family performs a concluding ritual called Havdalah (separation, division). Blessings are recited over wine, spices, and candles.

Then a blessing is recited regarding the division between the sacred and the secular, between the Sabbath and the working days, etc.

As you can see, Shabbat is a very full day when it is properly observed, and very relaxing.

You really do not miss being unable to turn on the TV, drive a car, or go shopping.

Setting the Table

Candle Lighting :

Baruch atah YHWH Eloheynu melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitsvah vitsi vinu l’kadeish Ha Shabbat, Amayn

Blessed are you, YHVH our Elohim King of the Universe, who has sanctified us by His Mitzvot [Commandments] and commanded us to sanctify the Sabbath and  commands us to be a light to the nations and has giving us YAH'shua the Messiah, the light of world. Amein

TRADITIONAL:..At least two candles should be lit, representing the dual commandments to remember and to keep the sabbath. The candles are lit by the woman of the household. After lighting, she waves her hands over the candles, welcoming in the sabbath. Then she covers her eyes, so as not to see the candles before reciting the blessing, and recites the blessing below. The hands are then removed from the eyes, and she looks at the candles, completing the mitzvah of lighting the candles.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam = Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe

asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu = Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us

l'had'lik neir shel Shabbat. (Amein) to light the lights of Shabbat. (Amen)

Blessing over the Wives:

Father, we thank you for giving us wives of proverbs 31 and oh L-rd I thank you for the wife that you have given to me. May you all be blessed as you rise while it is yet night to see about the ways of your household and may you be blessed as you see about the daily care and education of your children. May your mouth be filled with wisdom and Kindness.,

May your heart meditate on the power and the glory of the YHVH; And may your hands perform the Commands, as you do the work of YAH'shua HaMashiach, Amen

Blessing for the Husbands :

YHVH,I thank you for your blessing of a Husband . I ask that you bless mine and remove all the fear and doubt from his heart and mind. Give him wisdom in his role as Husband, father, and priest of our home.

Grant him your shalom, your peace that surpasses all understanding, and fill him with your Spirit.

I ask that you guide his steps and guard his path from the enemy.

Let him know that I am committed to You and I am committed to Him.

In the name of YAH'shua HaMashiach I pray. Amein

Blessing for the Guests ( and or singles):

YHVH, I thank You for these guest that you have blessed us with tonight.

Blessed are those who dwell in Your House, continually praising YOU. How blessed is the person whose strength is in you, the highways to Zion are in their heart for YHVH are Elohim is the sun and shield, the way of the righteous, by that the way of the wicked will perish

Blessing for the Sons:

May the LORD bless you and keep you . May he cause his face to shine upon you. May he lift up countenances and grant you peace. May you be as efram and menasa, May the LORD with you ever be, May He bring you home unto the land prepare for thee.

( Father) May G-d bless you and grant you long life

(Mother) May the L-rd Fulfill our Sabbath prayer for you.

May G-d make you good husbands and fathers.

(father) May he prepare holy wives for you. May the LORD protect and defend you may his spirit fill you with grace.

May are family grow in happiness, oh hear are Sabbath prayer Amen

Blessing for the Daughters:

May the L-RD bless you and keep you . May he cause his face to shine upon you.

May he lift up countenances and grant you peace.

May you be as Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah, May the L-RD with you ever be,

May He bring you home unto the land prepare for thee.

( Father) May G-d bless you and grant you long life

(Mother) May the Lord Fulfill our Sabbath prayer for you.

May G-d make you good mothers and wives.

(father) May he bring you husbands who will care for you.

May the L-RD protect and defend you may his spirit fill you with grace.

May are family grow in happiness, oh hear are Sabbath prayer Amen

Blessing over the cup:

Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu melech ha-olam, boaray p’ree ha-gofen

Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

TRADITIONAL:Evening Services Evening services (Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma'ariv) should be attended in the synagogue or performed in the home between candle lighting and dinner on the evening of the sabbath.

Kiddush Kiddush is recited while holding a cup of wine or other liquid, no less than 3.3 ounces.

If wine or grape juice is not used, you should substitute shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (by whose will all things come to be) for borei p'ri hagafen (who creates the fruit of the vine).

Vay'hi erev vay'hi voker yom hashishi =And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day

vay'khulu hashamayim v'ha'aretz v'khol tz'va'am= The heavens and the earth were finished, the whole host of them

vay'khal elohim bayom hash'vi'i m'la'kh'to asher asah= And on the seventh day God completed his work that He had done

vayish'bot bayom hash'vi'i mikol m'la'kh'to asher asah =and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done

Vay'varekh Elohim et yom hash'vi'i vay'kadeish oto =And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it

ki vo shavat mikol m'la'kh'to asher bara Elohim la'asot= because in it He had rested from all His work that G-d had created to do

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam= Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe

(if using wine or grape juice) borei p'ri hagafen (Amein) Who creates the fruit of the vine (Amen)

(if using other liquids) shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (Amein) Who made all things exist through His word (Amen)

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam= Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe

asher kid'shanu b'mitz'votav v'ratzah vanu =who sanctifies us with his commandments, and has been pleased with us

v'shabat kad'sho b'ahavah uv'ratzon hin'chilanu zikaron l'ma'aseih v'rei'shit= You have lovingly and willingly given us Your holy Shabbat as an inheritance, in memory of creation

ki hu yom t'chilah l'mik'ra'ei kodesh zeikher litzi'at Mitz'rayim= because it is the first day of our holy assemblies, in memory of the exodus from Egypt

ki vanu vachar'ta v'otanu kidash'ta mikol ha'amim= because You have chosen us and made us holy from all peoples

v'shabat kad'sh'kha b'ahavah uv'ratzon hin'chal'tanu= and have willingly and lovingly given us Your holy Shabbat for an inheritance

Barukh atah Adonai m'kadeish hashabat (Amein). Blessed are You, who sanctifies Shabbat (Amen)

Washing Hands After Kiddush and before the meal, each person in the household should wash hands by filling a cup with water and pouring it over the top and bottom of the right hand and then the left hand. Before wiping the hands dry on a towel, the following blessing should be recited.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam =Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe

asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu =Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us

al n'tilat yadayim.= concerning washing of hands.

Why is there no "Amen" at the end of this blessing? Traditionally, each person washes their own hands, and each person says their own blessing. You don't say "Amen" to your own blessing, and everybody says their own n'tilat yadayim, so there is no "Amen"! With the other blessings on this page, a leader says the blessing on behalf of everyone, and the others say "Amen."

Blessing for the Challah:

Baruch atah YHVH Eloheynu melech ha-olam, ha-motzee lechem min ha-aretz

Blessed are You, YHWH our Elohim, King of the universe, who brings forth the bread from the earth.

TRADITIONAL: Immediately after washing hands and before eating, the head of the household should remove the cover from the two challah loaves, lifting them while reciting the following blessing.

The challah is then ripped into pieces or sliced and passed around the table, so that each person may have a piece.

The family meal may then begin.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam = Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe

hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz. (Said by family=Amein).

who brings forth bread from the earth. (Amen)

SheHakol:

Baruch atah YHWH Eloheynu melech ha-olam, She-ha-kol ni-he-yah bid-va-ro

Blessed are You, YHWH our Elohim, King of the universe, who by his word brings about all things Amen

Havdalah Home Ritual:::

Please note that this page contain the name of God. If you print it out, please treat it with appropriate respect.

TRADITIONAL:::

The Havdalah service marks the end of Shabbat.

It should be performed no earlier than nightfall on Saturday night.

Nightfall is the time when three stars can be seen in the sky.

It is normally about 45 minutes to an hour after sundown, depending on your latitude. For the precise time when Shabbat ends in your area, consult the list of candle lighting times provided by the Orthodox Union. You will need three things for this ritual: a glass of wine or other liquid, some fragrant spices, and a special Havdalah candle. Wine The first of the four havdalah blessings is made over wine or another liquid.

If wine or grape juice is not used, you should substitute shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (by whose will all things come to be) for borei p'ri hagafen (who creates the fruit of the vine).

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam = Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe

(if using wine or grape juice) borei p'ri hagafen (Amein) Who creates the fruit of the vine (Amen) (if using other liquids) shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (Amein) Who made all things exist through His word (Amen)

Spices The second blessing is recited over fragrant spices.

The spices represent a compensation for the loss of the special sabbath spirit.

The spices commonly used are cloves, cinnamon or bay leaves.

They are commonly kept in a special decorated holder called a b'samim box.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam, borei minei v'samim (Amein) Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe, Who creates varieties of spices (Amen) Fire

The third blessing is recited over the special, multi-wicked Havdalah candle. Havdalah candles can be obtained from Jewish gift stores. If you cannot obtain a Havdalah candle, you can hold two candles close together, so their flames overlap.

I have also used party candles (long, very thin candles) that I warmed up and twisted together.

Lighting a flame is a vivid way of marking the distinction between the sabbath and the weekday, because we cannot kindle a flame on the sabbath. After the blessing is recited, hold your hands up to the flame with curved fingers, so you can see the shadow of your fingers on your palms.

This is done because it would be improper to recite a blessing for something and then not use the thing.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe borei m'orei ha'eish (Amein) Who creates the light of the fire (Amen) Havdalah

The final blessing is the havdalah blessing itself, the blessing over the separation of different things. The blessing is recited over the wine. After the blessing is complete, drink the wine. A few drops of wine are used to extinguish the flame from the candle.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam =Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe hamav'dil bein kodesh l'chol Who separates between sacred and secular

bein or l'choshekh bein Yis'ra'eil la'amim between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations

bein yom hash'vi'i l'sheishet y'mei hama'aseh between the seventh day and the six days of labor

Barukh atah Adonai, hamav'dil bein kodesh l'chol (Amein). Blessed are You, Lord, who separates between sacred and secular. (Amen)