In the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), the very first appearance of the Hebrew word kadosh, “holy,” refers not to a person, place, or object, but to the day called Shabbat. Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, is a welcome respite from the chaos of the workweek, which is why the 20th-century thinker Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel referred to it as “a palace in time.” Traditional Shabbat rituals include lighting candles, saying blessings over wine or grape juice and challah (braided bread), singing Shabbat songs, and gathering together for a delicious meal. Paradoxically, part of what makes Shabbat special is its very predictability. Every Friday night, Shabbat returns like clockwork and offers an opportunity for the whole family to experience the comfort and joy of its rituals.
Follow along with ShirLala to learn all about what happens at the Shabbat table.
The Jewish sabbath, or day of rest. Shabbat happens every week from Friday evening until Saturday evening.
Every week, from sundown on Friday night until three stars appear in the night sky on Saturday.
All told, Shabbat is about twenty-five hours long. On Saturday night, when three stars appear in the sky, we say “goodbye” to Shabbat with a beautiful multisensory ceremony called havdalah.
On Friday nights families light candles, pour and bless wine or grape juice, say blessings over children, and share challah to user in the celebration. On Saturday, people rest, attend synagogue, relax, visit with friends, and enjoy family time.
Families bake challah, lay out clothes, and prepare a special meal. Many families light candles and say special blessings to bring in Shabbat.
Use the tiles to find activities, book lists, how-tos, podcast episodes, and other resources to embrace Shabbat with your family.
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