Shabbat

What is Shabbat?

Shabbat takes place every week from Friday before sunset to Saturday after sunset. It is the only holiday mentioned in the Ten Commandments, it is the 4^th commandment, “Remember the Sabbath and keep it Holy.” Shabbat is primarily a day of rest whose origins can be found in the story of creation when G-d creates the world in six days and rests on the seventh. So too, we are asked to refrain from creating and use this day for rest and spiritual enrichment.

Traditions

• Lighting two candles and letting them burn out
• Having 3 festive meals (Friday night, Saturday lunch, and Saturday afternoon). At each meal, a blessing over a glass of wine and a blessing over 2 loaves of special bread called challah is recited prior to partaking in the meal.
• People often use Shabbat as quiet and/or family time