Traditional Rituals for Shabbat
Religious Studies: KS3, topic 1.2.24
Traditional Rituals for Shabbat
There are several different traditional rituals that are observed on Shabbat.
Friday night on Shabbat
- Just before sunset on Friday, the lady of the house lights two candles - some light a candle for each member of the family.
- Men will go to the synagogue for Shabbat prayers on Friday night.
- Children might choose to go too.
- Women and children who have stayed at home might say the prayers at home.
- After the service, there will be a festive meal.
The traditional Shabbat meal
- The meal begins with Kiddush and a speech about the holy nature of the day.
- This speech is said with a cup of wine in order to emphasise that this is a day of celebration.
- A blessing is said over two loaves of challot.
- Challot is a rectangular, braided kind of bread.
- The braid represents the relationship between God and the Jewish people.
- The two loaves remind Jews of the manna God provided when the Israelites were in the desert.
The Sunday morning service
- There is a longer service on a Shabbat morning in the synagogue.
- A longer section of the Torah will be read and extra prayers are read and sung in honour of Shabbat.
- There might also be special children's service to allow the entire family to enjoy and connect with the Shabbat.
After the Sunday morning service
- A second festive meal is eaten at home.
- During the meals songs are sung by the family.
- A third Shabbat meal is eaten after the afternoon service.
- Often this is eaten in the synagogue.
- The Rabbi might teach the community about Shabbat laws or the weekly Torah portion.
- At nightfall, a special ceremony called Havdalah is held to say goodbye to Shabbat.
Havdalah
- Havdalah is said with a cup of wine which is drunk at the end of the blessing.
- Each family member smells spices to give them a boost as Shabbat ends.
- A candle is lit which shows that creative activities are now permitted.
- Fire is the original source of energy and so candles are still used so that Jews are able to connect with their tradition.
Test yourself on Traditional Rituals for Shabbat
What is the ceremony commemorating the end of Shabbat called?
Where is the third Shabbat meal often eaten?
What commemorative actions take place during Havdalah?