How Is A Traditional Shabbat Observed

When most people think of Shabbat, they tend to think of Shabbat’s many prohibitions including driving, cooking and engaging in commerce. In our modern society when such activities are so commonplace, the question naturally arises, why observe these prohibitions and what, exactly, do you do on Shabbat if you can’t cook a meal, for example, or use the computer?

Judaism is very much focused on the sanctification of time. Just as G-d rested on the seventh day, as is recorded in the Book of Genesis, so, too, do we rest. Traditionally, observing Shabbat entails refraining from thirty-nine categories of melachot—creative labor. So, how were these categories derived?

The Torah enjoins the Jewish people to observe the Shabbat as an everlasting covenant, but doesn’t spell out what that entails. Our rabbis and sages have sought to fill this void. The thirty-nine melachot correspond to thirty-nine actions that were involved in the building of the mishkan—the portable sanctuary in the desert. The melachot are chiefly concerned with refraining from creative actions. This is why writing is traditionally not permitted on Shabbat, for example. Although many of us wouldn’t look at writing as work in the conventional English sense of the term, from a Jewish legal or halakhic perspective, it is considered a melachah because you are creating when you write.

Given Shabbat’s many prohibitions, the question is often asked, so if you can’t write, drive, cook, ETC., what can you do? Shabbat is ushered in on Friday afternoon with the lighting of candles eighteen minutes before sunset. Afterwards, many people will head off to shul for Shabbat evening services. In traditional congregations, the service will either begin with the weekday afternoon prayers (Mincha) time-permitting. From there, Kabbalat Shabbat immediately follows, which is a series of psalms and songs meant to welcome in the Shabbat. From a Jewish liturgical perspective, the custom of saying Kabbalat Shabbat is extraordinarily new, beginning as it did only in the 16th century, CE. The custom of saying Kabbalat Shabbat began amongst a community of Kabbalists in Safed, a city in Israel and was gradually adopted by Jewish communities around the world.

Following the conclusion of Kabbalat Shabbat, some congregations do a bit of text study, followed by the Rabbi’s Kaddish which is immediately followed by Maariv, the evening service. After services have ended, people head off to enjoy Shabbat dinner.

Shabbat dinner traditionally begins by singing Shalom Aleichem, a song that welcomes the Shabbat angels into our homes. In many traditional communities, Shalom Aleichem is followed by Eishet Chayil, Woman of Valor, which is adapted from the 31st chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible. Kiddush, the sanctification of Shabbat over a cup of wine immediately follows. Once Kiddush has been recited, people do a ritual hand washing in preparation for eating bread. On Shabbat, people traditionally have two challot at every meal to symbolize the double portion of Manna that the Children of Israel gathered on Fridays in the desert.

The blessing over the bread, hamotzi is then said and the meal is begun. Although many people have customary dishes they like to eat on Shabbat, there is no proscribed menu for a Shabbat dinner—it’s totally dependent upon personal preference and taste. Some have the custom of eating meat on Shabbat.

Following the meal, Birkat HaMazon, the Blessing after the meal is recited. Many people will follow this with the singing of zemirot—Shabbat table songs. You can find many recordings of zemirot online and they are also found in siddurim—prayer books and benchers—booklets which contain the Birkat HaMazon.

The Shabbat morning service is the longest and often most well-attended of the week. It includes the reading of the Parsha HaShavuah—the weekly Parsha. It is divided into three distinct parts—Pesukei Dezimra, verses of praise, Shacharit, the morning service and Musaf, the additional service. Musaf is not said in Reform and Reconstructionist congregations. Musaf is the additional sacrifice that was brought to the Temple in Jerusalem on Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh and festivals.

After services, people enjoy Shabbat lunch which, like Shabbat dinner includes Kiddush, hand washing, motzi and Birkat HaMazon. People will also sing zemirot at Shabbat lunch.

After lunch, many people will take a much needed and much looked forward to Shabbat nap, read a book, take a walk, and generally enjoy spending time with friends and family. Shabbat is very much about being in community with others—enjoying meals, doing things together, really enjoying the company of others.

The afternoon service on Shabbat, Mincha is relatively short. A short section from the next week’s Parsha is read at Mincha. Following Mincha is Seudah Shlishit—literally, the third meal. We’re commanded to eat three meals on Shabbat. Depending upon the time of year, Seuda Shlishit is often very light. Following Seuda Shlishit, many people will pray the Maariv or evening service which is then followed by Havdalah, the brief yet meaningful ceremony which separates Shabbat from the rest of the week.