Shabbat / Shabbos

The main religious service of the Jews is called the Shabbat. The Shabbat, or Sabbath, starts at dusk on Friday evening and ends at dusk on Saturday evening. Why do Jews celebrate the Sabbath? Think about the creation story from the book of Genesis. In this story it says that God created the world in six days and on the seventh he rested. There are a long list of things that it is forbidden for Jews to do during the Sabbath. Jewish people who keep the Sabbath faithfully will not go to work or to school, will not do any housework or homework, will not use public transport, will not prepare or cook any food (all food for the Sabbath will be prepared before sunset on Friday), and will not go shopping. The Sabbath will be seen as a time to worship, study and enjoy recreation with their family.

Friday evening

The fourth of the ten commandments says "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. On it you shall do no work" So the Sabbath is a special day for Jews.

It is a whole day that is special and different from other days. A day for a special meal, a family get together, best clothes, a complete break from normal routine. The word Sabbath means rest, but in many Jewish homes a great deal of hard work is done before the day begins. The house must be clean and tidy, the Sabbath meal ready, the table laid with flowers and the best plates and glasses, and the wine must be uncorked. Even the candlesticks have been especially polished. Everyone in the family will have a job to do to help prepare the house for the Sabbath.

The Sabbath candles will be lit in the home and then the family will attend the short evening service at the synagogue. After this they will return home and the father will bless the family with suitable words. He may say to the boys,

"May God make you like Ephriam and Manasseh", or to the girls "May God make you like Ruth and like Rebekah". He will also praise his wife possibly using the words of Psalm 31.

The Kiddush is then said. A large glass of wine is blessed with the words "Blessed are you Lord our God, King of the Universe, who gives us the fruit of the vine". This wine is a symbol of the joy and the glass will be very full to show that God's love for the world is great. This part of the Shabbat service ends with a blessing for the holiness of the Shabbat.

The Shabbat meal begins with the breaking of bread. There are always two loaves of bread on the Sabbath table, these are called hallot and are usually plaited. Songs are sung during the meal and the meal will end with a prayer of thanksgiving. The hallot bread is to remind Jews that God gave then Manna in the wilderness when they were without food.

Saturday morning

An important part of the Sabbath day is the service held in the synagogue o nSaturday morning. As people arrive they wish each other a "Shabbat Shalom" (A peaceful Sabbath). During the service that follows the Torah is ceremoniously taken from the ark, processed around the synagogue and then a portion of the scripture will be read. A sermon will usually be preached on the text and songs will be sung.

Saturday evening

At the end of the Sabbath, just before dusk on Saturday evening there is another ceremony. This ceremony is called Havdulah. A special candle with several wicks is lit and a spice box is opened to wish everybody a sweet week until the next Sabbath. The parting greeting at the end of the Sabbath is "shavua tov" (have a good week); the candle will be dipped in wine to extinguish it.

Important words

• Sabbath or Shabbat - The seventh day of the week. The holy day of the Jews.
• Ark - The cabinet in the synagogue where the scrolls are kept.
• Hallot - Loaves of bread especially baked for the Shabbat meal.
• Kiddush - The special prayer said at the beginning of the Shabbat.
• Havdulah - The service at the end of the Sabbath.
• Shabbat Shalom - The Sabbath greeting meaning "have a peaceful Sabbath".
• Torah - The scroll of the law