1. Jewish Choices for Living USE RIGHT OR LEFT ARROWS TO GO FORWARD OR BACK
Unit 7, session 3 - Shabbat
Rabbi Jonathan Keren-Black
Leo Baeck Centre, East Kew
Revised for the Introduction to Judaism Course 2016/5776

3. Biblical basis for Shabbat
There are two biblical explanations for the observance of Shabbat:
A reminder of the works of Creation:
that is, of God, the Creator
A reminder of the Exodus from Egypt:
that is, that we are no longer slaves, but free to rest on one day in each week (God the Redeemer).

5. Prohibited work
Torah itself prohibited ‘work’ but only lists a few specifics, eg collecting Manna (the food that is said to have appeared every day except Shabbat in the 40 years of wandering in the desert).

6. Is that really all ‘work’?
The Rabbis of the Mishna derived a list of 39 headings – and many more sub- headings – to define what ‘work’ meant!
They did this by deciding what sort of tasks were required to construct the biblical Tabernacle – which was not done on Shabbat.

7. Shabbat at Home At least two candles Tablecloth
Kiddush cup and wine or grape juice
Challah or two challot – with challah cloth
Special meal
Discussion – best thing about the week, Torah portion, politics, where you were last week for shabbat or Havdalah etc
Songs-z’mirot (Prayer book page )
Grace after meals (Prayer book page )
Havdalah (Prayer book, page )

9. Four blessings of Kiddush
We light the candles – then say the blessing.
Then we say the blessing for the wine.
Then we say the blessing for the Sabbath (this is actually the kiddush, sanctifying shabbat)
Finally we say the blessing for the Challah.
We wish each other ‘Shabbat Shalom’, have a good (peaceful) sabbath.
We may sing shabbat songs (z’mirot) during the meal.
We conclude the meal with Birkat Hamazon

11. Shabbat has kept the Jews
More than Jews have kept the sabbath, the sabbath has kept the Jews (Israel’s National Poet, Achad Ha’am).
(not necessarily related to the previous!) According to the Rabbis, sex is a special mitzvah on Friday night (if you are married!)

13. A taste of the world to come
Adam and Eve were evicted from the Garden of Eden – Paradise.
We wish to return. It is the place where we can live and eat without effort and labour, a place of peace and harmony and perfection.
The ‘Messianic Times’ for which we hope – and work – are a return to Paradise
Each shabbat should offer us a taste, a reminder, of the restful Paradise of Eden.

14. Holy day This is our holy day every week. We all need holy days.
Having two days off in a week is a challenge. In Israel, even today, the weekend is really Friday afternoon and Saturday. Sunday is a school day and usually a work day.
With two day weekends, making shabbat special takes more effort.

15. Holiday
It is no coincidence that we call a longer period of ‘days of rest’ a ‘holiday’! Treat a holiday as an extended shabbat, a longer taste of the world to come! Celebrate Shabbat!

16. Special - Holy What is holiness?
Zachor et yom hashabbat l’kadsho – remember the sabbath day – to make it something special in each week.
So think about what you can do to make it special each week (brainstorm…..)
Examples: Invite people for Dinner. Go to shul. Make a special breakfast. Go for walks. Don’t do mundane things like your regular work or chores. Don’t go shopping. Don’t fill the car with petrol.

17. Havdalah

18. Havdalah - Difference
The short ceremony of Havdalah to conclude shabbat mirrors the short ceremony of Kiddush that commences it (MT p.610).
Its purpose is summarised in the final blessing – hamavdil ben kodesh l’chol – to make a distinction between holy and everyday.

19. Four blessings of Havdalah
We light the candle – then say the blessing for the wine.
Then we say the blessing for the spices.
Then we say the blessing for the candle
Finally we say the Havdalah blessing, and put the candle out.
We may sing about Elijah the Prophet and Miriam the Prophetess.
We wish each other ‘Shavua Tov’, have a good week.