Shabbat — an introduction
The Shabbat is one of the most important and least understood rituals in Jewish life. While there are many interpretations of the meaning of Shabbat, I would like to emphasize three themes associated with Shabbat: Freedom, awareness, and holiness.
Freedom
The actions and expressions of slaves are decided for them by their masters, against their will. The fruits of a slave's labor belong to his master. It is only the free man who decides when to rest and when to work, what to do and what not to do.
However, being free is not the same as experiencing freedom. A workaholic who must work 16 hours a day has not experienced freedom. While we live in a country where our freedom is guaranteed, we have not been freed from the slavery of our work and ambitions. Shabbat comes to free us from self imposed slavery.
“And remember that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; Therefore, the Lord thy God commanded you to keep the shabbat day." (Deuteronomy 4:15)
After Egypt, Jews learned that freedom is a serious matter. The Shabbat ensures that we live as free people, taking time off from work to appreciate life.
Awareness
“In six days God created the heaven and earth and all that is in them and on the seventh day he rested; Therefore God blessed the shabbat day and hallowed it." (Exodus 19:11)
God didn't rest because he was tired; what He was doing was appreciating the work he had done. For us as well, Shabbat is a day to appreciate the world around us. We don't always notice the beauty in the world around us, the world God created. Sometimes we are running too fast to enjoy the scenery; Too fast to realize how lucky we are to have food, homes, and families.
Holiness
Shabbat is not just a day off; It's a holy day. The idea of ‘kedushah', holiness, in Judaism is closely related to the concept of devotion. For example, certain things, such as a Torah scroll or a Mezuzah, are considered holy items because they are devoted to divine service; Marriage is considered a holy institution because the two spouses are devoted to each other. On Shabbat as well, we seek holiness by intensifying our devotion to God and our families.
It is on Shabbat that we seek closeness with our spouses and children; We spend more time together, and treat each other differently. We seek to understand God and religion by studying and praying. Each Shabbat, we try to find a new level of holiness to carry into the next week.
SHABBAT RITUALS
How beloved is your rest,
O Shabbat Queen,
Therefore we run toward you,
saying "Come, O royal bride".
Dressed in beautiful garments,
Lighting the candles with a blessing,
All labors cease,
'You shall not work'.
On the eve are prepared
All types of delicacies,
While yet day, were readied,
Fattened chickens,
The drinking of scented wines,
And luxurious delicacies.
(From an anonymous poem, “Mah Yedidut", published in 1545)
Shabbat Preparations
All preparations for Shabbat should be done in advance, in order to enjoy the Shabbat rest. Even though Shabbat preparations can sometimes be hectic, great care should be taken to avoid arguments on Friday afternoon, in order to enter Shabbat in peace and happiness (Hayim Yoseph David Azulai, in Avodat Hakodesh, no. 140)
The dinner table should be set in a beautiful manner, in order to greet Shabbat with honor.
Candle Lighting
Before the Shabbat enters, one of the members of the household, (traditionally the woman), lights two or more candles in the dining room. This was instituted to ensure “Shalom Bayit", peace in the house; light brightens the mood, and makes the house more peaceful. (In particular, if the lights are on, people won’t stub their toes and be in a bad mood!). In modern times, turning on an electric light is sufficient. However, because electric lights cannot compete with the beauty of candles, most people prefer using candles.
After lighting the candles a blessing is recited. Because the candles symbolize family harmony, over the years many prayers were composed (most often by women) to be recited after lighting the Shabbat candles.
Because family peace is so important in Judaism, the Shabbat candles are an important ritual. Maimonides (Mishneh Torah, Hilchot Chanukah 4:14) rules that a pauper who has only enough money for one set of candles, and must choose between using them for his Chanukah Menorah or as Shabbat candles, should use them for Shabbat candles, for they help preserve family peace.
Blessing Children
There is a common custom for parents to bless their children on friday night before the meal. This is because Shabbat is a day of family togetherness, a day to renew bonds between parents and children.
Kiddush
“Kiddush" means sanctification. It is a ceremony to welcome Shabbat into our lives, to declare the Shabbat a day of rest, enjoyment, and holiness. A prayer about the Shabbat is recited. Like a toast, it is to be recited while holding a glass of wine; the wine is drunk immediately after the recital. The wine symbolizes the joy and happiness of the shabbat day. (If one does not want to or cannot drink wine, grape juice or bread may be substituted.)
Shabbat Meal
The Shabbat meal follows Kiddush. The Shabbat meal is to be festive, in order to make the shabbat day, a day enjoyment. So important is the Shabbat meal, that it was the custom of a Rabbi Shamai to begin looking on sunday for delicacies to be used on the next Shabbat!
At the meal two loaves of bread are used. The second loaf of bread is added to symbolize the festive spirit at the meal; Unlike weekday meals, which only use one loaf of bread, on Shabbat we use a bounty of two loaves.
D'var Torah and Singing
The Shabbat meal is not only a culinary experience; It is also a religious experience. It is customary to study and discuss Torah at the meal, particularly the the weekly Torah reading. Similarly, it is customary to sing Jewish songs at the meal.
Written by Rabbi Chaim Steinmetz