What Blessings Are Said on Shabbat?

A family sitting at a table laughing and eating challah

Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath), which begins Friday at sundown and ends Saturday evening, is a time for stepping out of the weekday bustle. On every other day, we pour energy into working, consuming, producing, and getting things done. On Shabbat, we stop. Together with our families, we turn ordinary time into something special. It’s traditional to usher in Shabbat by saying blessings over candles, wine, and bread. It’s also customary to bless our children, either through the traditional Hebrew prayers or with any loving words we choose.

Use the buttons linked to print a one-sheet Shabbat tutorial and blessing sheet, learn the order of the blessings, practice saying blessings in Hebrew and English, and more:

Printable Shabbat Tutorial

Shabbat Blessing Printable PDF

Order of Blessings

You’ve set out the candles, opened the grape juice, and procured a challah. What’s next? What do you bless first? Is there a spot to wash hands? When do we bless the children? Here’s a simple run-down of what to do when:

Light the candles
- Light at least two candles and wave in the light three times to welcome Shabbat. Then cover your eyes and say the blessing.
Bless the kids
- Place your hands on your child’s head (or wherever they like*) and say the blessing or make up your own.
Bless the grape juice
- Raise your glass and say the blessing. (This is called making kiddush).
Wash hands
- Pour water over each hand and recite the blessing.
Bless the challah
- Raise the challah and say the motzi.

*This author’s children are big fans of having kids on their elbows. Elbows are, apparently, the funniest body part.

Related: Interested in learning more about why challah is blessed last? Listen to “Kiddo Bakes a Challah” from PJ Library Presents Afternoons With Mimi

Text of Each Blessing

Lighting Shabbat Candles
- English:
  - Dear God, Creator of our world, thank You for giving us rules that make our lives special and for teaching us to light these Shabbat candles.
- Hebrew (transliterated)*:
  - Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu lehadlik ner shel Shabbat.
Blessing the Children
- English:
  - May God bless you and keep you safe. May God’s light shine on you and grace your life. May God turn toward you and give you a world of peace.
- Hebrew:
  - Yevarechecha Adonai veyishmerecha. Ya’er Adonai panav eilecha viyechuneka. Yisa Adonai panav eilecha veyasem lecha shalom.
Making Kiddush (Blessing the Wine or Grape Juice)
- English:
  - Dear God, Creator of our world, thank You for the delicious fruit that grows on vines.
- Hebrew:
  - Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.
Ritual Handwashing
- English:
  - Dear God, Creator of our world, thank You for giving us rules that make our lives special and for teaching us to wash our hands before we eat.
- Hebrew:
  - Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim.
Blessing the Challah
- English:
  - Dear God, Creator of our world, thank You for bringing bread out of the earth.
- Hebrew:
  - Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha’olam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz.