Our shabbat class

Shabbat is the best day of the week !

It is a day of rest, a day of play and day of no work !

When did shabbat begin. Some people believe it started at the beginning of the world, when God after making the world in 6 days rested on the seventh day.

It's one day human beings do not interfere with the world - we behave as if everything were perfect. The rules of shabbat takes getting used to, but after a while, you begin to look forward to having that special day of rest.

Shabbat begins with lighting two candles. They stand for the opposites in life : light and darkness, holy and not holy, work and rest.

The candles are usually lit by the woman, but anyone can do it. We light the candles before the blessing because once the prayer is said, shabbat has begun and fires may no longer be lit. Cover your eyes in order not to see the candles already lit and recite the blessing : Baruch atah adonai, eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kidushanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu l'hadlik ner shel shabbat.

After the candles are lit, the kiddush, the blessing over the wine to proclaim the holiness of the day, is sung. Kiddush means 'holy'. It is said over wine, because "wine gladdens the heart" This blessing thanks God for the great delight of Shabbat, for the creation of the world, for freeing the Jews from slavery. After the blessing the cup is passed for everyone to sip from the wine.

Baruch atah adonai, eloheinu melech ha-olam, borei pri hagafen.

Baruch atah adonai, eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kidushanu b'mitzvotav v'ratzah vanu v'shabbat kodsho b'ahavah uvratzon hinhilanu, zikaron l'ma'aseh v'rehsheet. Ki hu yom t'hila l'mkra'eh kodesh zeher litzi'at mitzraim. Ki-vanu vaharta v'otanu kidashtah micol-ha-amim, v'shabbat kodsh'ha b'ahavah uv'ratzon hinhaltanu. Baruch atah adonai mikadesh hashabbat.

Then, after everyone sips the wine, the hallah a sweet egg bread (which we baked today) is uncovered for the blessing.

Barach atah adonai eloheinu melech ha-alom, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz

Shabbat brings families together.

If we all spent one day a week free of pressure and routine, taking time to renew ourselves, celebrating the world's creation and the creative energy that gives life to the world, we might enjoy our lives more and remember how precious life is.