May 22, 2009
Shabbat is the Jewish Sabbath--though the English word actually came from Shabbat. It's a day of rest and enjoyment at the end of every week that religious people undertake in imitation of God, who rested on the seventh day of creation. Traditional Jews refrain from all work on Shabbat, reserving it instead for prayer, study, visiting friends and family, large meals, pleasant walks and naps. It's pronounced Shah-baht, though some spell it Shabbos and pronounce it shah-biss. Shabbat lasts from just before sundown on Friday until an hour after sundown on Saturday evening. The greetings for Shabbat are "Shabbat Shalom," or in Yiddish, "Gut Shabbos." (It sounds like "good Shabbos" and that's what it means.)
Table of Contents
What is Shabbat?
What's Shabbat All About?
Variations on Making Shabbat
How You Can Make Shabbat at Home
Prepare
Light Candles
Make Blessings on Food and Drink
Saturday Lunch
Other Shabbat Activities
Shabbat in the Synagogue
Tot Shabbat
Services
Additional Resources
The Guide to Shabbat for Interfaith Families is also available as a PDF and Word document.
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