A typical Shabbat starts about 2-3pm when the Jews leave work to prepare for when Shabbat starts (sunset). Like all Jewish days its starts at sunset because in the story of creation in Genesis ch.1 ‘and there evening, and there was morning, one day’. A day begins at sunset.
Shabbat candles are lit and blessed by the woman of the house; she does this no later than 18 minutes to sunset. Two candles are light to repents two commandments: Zachor (remember) and Shamor (observe).
The family will attend a brief evening service at the synagogue, which is about 45 minutes long. The synagogue is a special building for Jews as a church is for a Christian. During the service there are readings from the scrolls of the Torah in Hebrew.
After the service but before the meal, the man of the house recites Kiddush (a prayer); the man says the prayer over the wine (he would pass it around the family) sanctifying Shabbat. The usual prayer for eating bread is recited over two loaves of challah. Challah is a type of bread, sweet, eggy and shaped in a braid. This is dipped in salt then pasted around the family as well. As the meal needs to be made be for sunset it’s usually stewed or slowly cooked items.
Next morning a services begins around 9am goes on till about noon. After the repeats Kiddush again and has another meal. By the time Birkat ha-mazon it’s about 2pm. The family studies the torah, talks, walk or play a game, it doesn’t matter if they do it as a family or alone, a nap isn’t uncommon. They have a final third meal before Shabbat is over.
Shabbat ends at nightfall, when three stars are viable about 40 minutes after sunset. With all the activities the Jews don’t miss not being unable to turn on a TV or drive a car. Jews experience spiritual happiness, which contains the whole family, it starts Friday sunset and ends Saturday nightfall.
On Shabbat Jews experience meuchah (resting from creative effort) and Shavat V a’yinafash (a rest for the soul or spirit) as Jews say in Hebrew. Shabbat is a time to study the torah and reconnect with the family, friends and your self. When oil lamps were replaced with candles it was the custom to at least two lights, although in some homes a candle was lit for each member of the family. The candles were lit approximately eighteen minuets before sunset. You cannot light candles once Sabbath has begun.
The Jewish calendar lists the correct times to light the candles each week including holidays. At least 2 candles have to be lit representing the mitzvoth of zachor and Shamor.
Maaariv; the evening prayer service follows Kabbalad Shabbat followed by the silent prayer Amidah which is repeated by the leader. The davening has six introductory psalms (1 for each other day of the week and the motifs of king and queenship).
In conclusion Shabbat is a special to Jews because it’s a day of rest. It is welcomed as a gift from god. Shabbat is observed both in the home and in the synagogue, on your own of with family and friends. The prominence is given to women and children when Shabbat is celebrated at home. Family life is very important to Jews as well as celebrations, rules and beliefs in their religion.
By Paula Wilkes
10JW
R.E