As Shabbat is such a special day Jews try to make the atmosphere at home different from how it is on other days of the week. Just before sunset on Friday the wife or mother in the house lights two candles used especially for Shabbat. By doing this she is inviting Shabbat into her home. This is a very special moment. The lady feels connected to the thousands of other women across the world who are also experiencing the moment, and with fellow Jews throughout history.
Later in the evening the whole family sit down together for a meal. They use their best cutlery and crockery for Shabbat. The man of the house recites kiddush (a prayer) over a cup of wine that is symbolic of the joy of the Sabbath and also chants a longer blessing in thanksgiving for the holiness of the Sabbath. All the family then drink a little wine and before sitting down to the first of the three festive meals, recite the ‘thank you’ blessing over the bread. Challot, the Sabbath bread, is of a special, twisted kind of which there are two loaves, covered by an embroidered cloth. Challot represents manna, which Exodus 16 describes as ‘a small white seed, and tasted like biscuits made with honey’. Manna appeared each day outside the tents of the ancient Israelites when they were journeying through the desert after escaping from Egypt. On Friday God gave the Israelites double portions and the double loaves at Shabbat represent this. The challot have twelve plaits to represent the twelve loaves of bread that were laid out in the Temple on the eve of each Shabbat. God also commanded the Israelites to save some manna to keep for their descendents so they would be able to see the food that was eaten when the Israelites were brought out of Egypt (Exodus 16:32-33).
During the meal challot is cut and the pieces lightly dipped in salt and passed around. Special foods are eaten and families often sing table hymns called zemirot, and tell stories. Hopefully the family can feel relaxed and enjoy each other’s company.
On Saturday the midday meal is very much like the one the night before. There is a blessing over the challot and families often share more stories with each other. The rest of the day is spent relaxing and enjoying the company of families and friends, it is also a time for religious study. After nightfall the woman of the house performs Havdallah (meaning ‘division’) a ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat. During this colourful ceremony people gather to say goodbye to Shabbat by lighting a special candle, drinking wine and smelling sweet spices from spice boxes. The igniting of the candles is a form of work and so it indicates that Shabbat is over. The sweet spices are used to refresh the soul. The ritual is often concluded with the extinguishing of the lights by plunging then in the dregs of wine. The ceremony expresses nostalgic regret that the Sabbath is ending. This nostalgia shows the spiritual elation that observant Jews experience on the Sabbath when they can forget the problems of the world and concentrate on the celebration of Shabbat.
Families then begin their tidying up which they are forbidden to do during Shabbat.
As well as spending time together as a family Jews also attend services at the synagogue to celebrate the holy day. The first of these services takes place on Friday just after Shabbat has arrived. The men of the family go to the synagogue for prayers. Women are also welcome to attend but this is optional. At twilight the Sabbath is welcomed and the famous hymn “Come my friend to meet the bride; let us welcome the presence of the Sabbath” is recited. Shabbat is described as a bride for people to realise its greatness and beauty and the special feelings and atmosphere that the celebration creates. At the end of the service the rabbi takes a cup of wine and recites the Kiddush. The rabbi recites a thank you blessing for Shabbat then takes a sip of the wine. The wine is then distributed through smaller cups so that everyone may take part. As people leave the synagogue they shake hands with their friends and wish each other “Good Shabbos” or “Shabbat Shalom” which means a Shabbat of peace.
The Saturday morning service usually begins later than service do during the week. It also lasts longer. During the service the rabbi reads part of the Torah in Hebrew. Each Shabbat a certain portion of the Torah is read. These portions are called Sidra. By the end of the year the entire scroll has been read. Seven men are called to say blessings during the reading of the Sidra. Before the Torah scroll is put away an eighth man is called to read the haftorah, a portion from one of the books of the prophets. After this the rabbi gives a sermon. This might be about something in the Sidra or about something in the news. Afterwards there is another service, known as Musaf, which takes place on new moons and festivals. As people leave the synagogue at the end of this service they again wish each other a Shabbat of peace.
Later in the afternoon there are fairly short afternoon prayers where the first part of the next weeks Torah is read. Usually only the men attend this service. The women often attend a study circle at a neighbour’s house. The neighbours take turns to host it.
Once the stars have appeared on Saturday night, Shabbat is over and the congregation say the prayers that they would at a weekday evening service. They ask for God’s blessing over the next week. The rabbi performs Havdallah at the end of the service to mark the end of the holy day. Blessings are said over a cup of wine, spices and a candle. Wine is a symbol of joy, spices symbolise the sweetness of Shabbat and the candle symbolises the light of Shabbat. The blessing shows that Jews are allowed to light fire once again. “He says one last blessing over the wine, and the separation of the holy day from the ordinary is completed.” (Examining Religions, Judaism)
These symbolic rituals have demonstrated the different ways that the celebration of Shabbat is observed by individual families in the home and by the wider Jewish community in Synagogues throughout the world.