Shabbat & Havdalah

In the Torah and the Ten Commandments we are instructed to “Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” The Sabbath or Shabbat for the Jewish people begins Friday night at sundown and ends Saturday with a ceremony called Havdalah. In the creation story in the Torah, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh day. We follow this model - after working all week, we also rest on Shabbat. Some Jews choose to follow this model strictly and not do any work on Shabbat, including driving in cars and using electricity. Others interpret this in different ways, looking at Shabbat as a day to spend time with family, engaged in Jewish activities, and setting it apart as a special time distinct from the rest of the week.  

To celebrate Shabbat, many go to Friday night services at their synagogue or have a special meal at home.  Whether at home or at the synagogue, there are a few special Shabbat rituals. We say the blessings over the Shabbat candles, the wine, and Challah bread. There are also special services Saturday morning where the Torah portion of the week is read, and which is often the time when Jewish children at the age of 13 become bar or bat mitzvah and lead the worship service.

On Saturday night when there are three stars visible in the night sky, Shabbat is officially over. To mark the end of Shabbat and the beginning of a new week, we observe Havdalah. In Hebrew Havdalah means “separation.” We separate the holiness of Shabbat from the rest of the normal week. Just as there are special Shabbat rituals and blessings, on Havdalah we light a braided candle, wine, and spices. We smell the spices to refresh the soul and remember the sweetness of Shabbat. At the end of the Havdalah ceremony, we extinguish the flame in the cup of wine and listen to the fizzling sound. The new week begins.

Download classic Shabbat recipes:
*from the kitchen of Diane Fadem
Matzah Ball Soup
Noodle Kugel
Vegetable Tzimmes

Watch our "All About Shabbat" playlist here:

Or, take a prayer-by-prayer look at Temple Israel's Shabbat services in this two-part series, Beyond Baruch:

We're here for celebration! 

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