Shabbat

Shabbat · The Sabbath

Sacred time each week: Creation, freedom, home ritual, synagogue and .

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Name, translation, date and length — the facts to have by heart.

Why this exists, what happened, and the values it carries.

Shabbat rests on two foundational meanings: Creation (Ma'aseh B'reishit) and the Exodus (Zecher L'Tziat Mitzrayim).
Shabbat is about resting, and about remembering that we are not slaves — freedom from constant work and constant technology.
It creates a sense of family and community.
Heschel described Shabbat as a sanctuary in time; means to sanctify and to separate.

Shabbat recalls God's rest at Creation and Israel's liberation from Egyptian slavery — rest as both cosmic pattern and freedom.

Rituals, symbols, prayers and foods — and the reason behind each.

Home: candle lighting — traditionally reserved for the women of the household — Shalom Aleichem, Kiddush over wine, HaMotzi over , the festive meal, and Birkat HaMazon.
Synagogue: reading the parsha, the weekly Torah portion.
at the close: wine, spices and a multi-wick candle.
Shabbat observance is recognized even outside Jewish life — some insurers give a discount to Shabbat observers, who drive less.

recall the two portions of manna — the matter from heaven — that the Israelites had to collect before Shabbat in the wilderness.
Candle lighting marks the entry into sacred time.
marks separation between Shabbat and the ordinary week: the spices carry the sweetness of Shabbat into the days ahead, and putting out the candle marks that Shabbat is over.

Shabbat candles: Entry into sacred time; lighting is reserved for the women of the home.
Two challot: The two portions of manna the Israelites collected before Shabbat.
Kiddush wine: Sanctification of the day.
Havdalah spices: Carrying Shabbat's sweetness into the week.
Multi-wick Havdalah candle: The separation of Shabbat from the week; when it goes out, Shabbat is over.

The Hebrew vocabulary for this topic.

Answer these out loud before you sit down with the rabbis.