Describe and explain the ways in which the Sabbath is observed in the Jewish home and synagogue

Authors Avatar

Describe and explain the ways in which the Sabbath is observed in the Jewish home and synagogue

As the Sabbath is regarded as an important day of the week, special preparations are made. The home is cleaned, outfits are chosen and the food is specially prepared for the whole of the Sabbath.

Traditionally, the men go to synagogue on the Friday night while the women stay at home. Solomon Schechter described the Sabbath as “a living reality, to be welcomed after six days absence with that expectant joy and impatient love with which the groom meets the bride”. As a result of this, the Sabbath is often described a bride. That is why women often wear white on the Sabbath, and the hymn, Lecha Dodi, is sung to welcome the Sabbath bride. When the last verse is sung, the congregation turn towards the entrance of the synagogue as if to welcome the Sabbath. Mourners enter at this point in the service. After kabbalat Shabbat, the phrase vehoo rachoom is omitted because it does not comply with the spirit of the Sabbath. The first and last three blessings of the Amidah are the same as the weekday one but the 13 benedictions in the middle are replaced with a passage describing the holiness of the Sabbath. Kiddush is recited in the synagogue for those who do not say it at home. The service concludes with Yigdal.

The candles are lit eighteen minutes before sundown because 18 means life in Hebrew. Traditionally, the woman of the house lights them. The two candles represent the two versions of the commandment to keep the Sabbath: “Remember the Shabbat” (Exodus 20:8) and “Observe the Shabbat” (Deuteronomy 5:12). The head is covered before lighting the candles as a sign of respect to God. Once the candles are lit, circular motions are made with the hands over the candles to bring in Shabbat. The eyes are then covered before the blessing is said because once the prayer is said, Shabbat has begun and fires may no longer be lit. However the blessing must be said before the commandment is carried out so the eyes are covered to make sure that the person saying the blessing forgets that they lit the candles beforehand.

The blessing of the children is said in Hebrew and often in English as well so the child understands the blessing. For boys, “May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe” is said and for girls, “May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah.”

Join now!

Before Kiddush, special hymns are sung. The first one, Shalom Aleichem, explains how two angels accompany every Jew on his way from the Friday night service to his home. Verses from the Book of Psalms are recited where the ideal wife is described. It mentions the relationship between the Sabbath and the preparation of the house and food, done by the wife.

Kiddush means holy and is sung/said just before the Friday night dinner and the Shabbat lunch. It can be recited either standing or sitting and should be said where the meal will be eaten. Kiddush ...

This is a preview of the whole essay