The Jewish day of rest, known as Shabbat (or Shabbos), occurs every week from Friday evening to Saturday evening. Shabbat is one of the most important Jewish observances and has been celebrated for over 3,000 years. On this day, Jews commemorate God’s day of rest after the six days of creation. Shabbat is a 25 hour period (from before sundown on Friday until after nightfall on Saturday) during which Jews refrain from creative work and instead focus on prayer, rest, and family. The practices and customs associated with Shabbat observance are rich and varied, but the overarching themes are peace, renewal, and connection with the divine.
Lighting Shabbat Candles
Shabbat begins each Friday evening with the lighting of the Shabbat candles, which usher in the holy day. The Shabbat candles are traditionally lit 18 minutes prior to sunset by the woman of the household. Customarily two candles are lit, representing the two commandments to “remember the Sabbath day” and “observe the Sabbath day.” After lighting, the woman waves her hands over the candles and draws them towards her to symbolically welcome in the light and peace of Shabbat. Reciting a blessing over the candles sanctifies this important moment and helps set the tone for the 25 sacred hours ahead.
Kabbalat Shabbat
The first religious service of Shabbat is Kabbalat Shabbat, meaning “Welcoming the Sabbath.” Kabbalat Shabbat begins at synagogue as the sun is setting on Friday evening. This service includes the singing of psalms and poetry to melodies designed to create a sense of tranquility and ushering in the Shabbat peace. The highlight of the service is Lecha Dodi, a poetic song welcoming the Sabbath as a bride. The service concludes as the Friday evening stars appear in the night sky.
Shabbat Meals
Shabbat is infused with symbolism, and this is especially apparent during the Shabbat meals. Two main meals frame Shabbat – one on Friday night and one on Saturday afternoon. These meals begin with Kiddush, the sanctification over wine, to honor the holiness of Shabbat. It is also customary to bless two loaves of challah bread, which represent the double portion of manna that God provided for the Israelites in the desert on Fridays.
Shabbat meals are lengthy multi-course affairs filled with song, words of Torah, and quality family time. The dishes served often have symbolic meaning tied to the themes of Shabbat. For example, many Ashkenazi Jews eat geflite fish and challah bread dipped in salt, representing the hope for a life of sustenance. Sephardic Jews have the custom of serving whole fish with the head intact, symbolizing being fruitful and multiplying. Honoring Shabbat through food is an incredibly important part of the day.
Shabbat Services
Shabbat services take place in the synagogue on Saturday morning. Worshippers recite prayers, listen to readings from the Torah and Haftarah, and hear a D’var Torah or sermon from the Rabbi. It is considered a great mitzvah (good deed) for Jewish adults to attend Shabbat morning services. One of the climaxes of the service is when the Torah scroll is paraded around the congregation after the Torah reading so that all can have an opportunity to connect with the divine teachings.
Shalosh Seudot – The Third Meal
Shabbat is a three meal day. After the Friday night and Saturday afternoon meals, Shalosh Seudot (meaning ‘three meals’) takes place late Saturday afternoon, completing the three meal cycle. This third meal traditionally begins with the blessing over two loaves of challah, representing the double portion of manna. Shalosh Seudot is seen as an opportunity to spiritually prepare for the end of Shabbat and the return to the mundane. Hasidic Jews consider this meal to be particularly holy, connecting it to the messianic future.
Shabbat Rituals
Aside from the major worship services and meals, Shabbat is filled with beautiful rituals, customs, and observances designed to make the day feel set apart from the rest of the week and infused with holiness. These include:
- Wearing fine clothing to honor Shabbat like a queen
- Blessing children on Friday night
- Enjoying leisurely walks
- Singing Shabbat songs called zemirot
- Eating three meals adorned with ritual items
- Drinking or smelling besamim (spices) to delight the soul
- Refraining from handling money
- Enjoying a siesta rest on Saturday afternoon
- Immersing in the mikveh ritual bath to purify before Shabbat begins
Observing these rituals and customs each week unites Jewish communities across the world and links Jews historically back to Mount Sinai when the commandment to honor Shabbat was given.
Refraining from Work
Perhaps most well known, Jews refrain from a number of activities on Shabbat which are considered “work” or “creation.” The Torah delineates 39 categories of prohibited work, called melachot. These include practices like writing, sewing, building, and igniting a fire. Instead of work, Shabbat should be focused on prayer, community, learning Torah, festive meals, and above all, rest. Shabbat is sometimes referred to as a “sanctuary in time” because its observance requires stepping out of one’s regular schedule and routine in order to experience the day differently. Honoring Shabbat by ceasing work shows that God, not human labor, is ultimately the source of all creation and blessing.
Seudah Shlishit – The Third Meal
The third and final meal of Shabbat takes place Saturday late afternoon. This third Shabbat repast is known as Seudah Shlishit (or Shalosh Seudos), which means ‘third meal’ in Hebrew. Like all Shabbat meals, this one includes Kiddush (sanctification over wine) and two loaves of challah bread. There is a custom to eat fish at this meal, in remembrance of the fish miraculously provided for the prophet Elisha. Seudah Shlishit is a mitzvah meal in which Jews bask in the waning moments of Shabbat. Singing takes place as Shabbat draws to a close and the week ahead is considered.
Havdalah Ceremony
As sunset approaches on Saturday evening, Jews perform the Havdalah ceremony, meaning ‘separation’ or ‘distinction’ in Hebrew. Havdalah ceremonially separates the holiness of Shabbat from the rest of the week. The blessings said over wine, spices, and a braided candle emphasize that Shabbat is a special time set apart from other days. Jews are bid farewell to the additional soul that was present on Shabbat. Performing Havdalah renews the distinction between the sacred and the profane as the start of a new week commences.
Melaveh Malka
After Havdalah concludes Shabbat, many Jews will hold a Melaveh Malka celebration meal. Meaning ‘escorting the queen’ in Hebrew, this nighttime supper marks the end of Shabbat and sees it off in an honorable way. It is customary to eat bread along with fish, meat, wine, and dessert at this late Saturday evening meal. Melaveh Malka includes singing and words of Torah as the peace of Shabbat lingers a bit longer. It provides a gentle transition back into the weekly grind. The meal concludes with a final prayer that the coming week should be a blessed one.
Conclusion
The glow of Shabbat peace and purpose lasts even after its formal conclusion. The rituals, customs, and observances of the Jewish day of rest renew the spirit, strengthen community and family bonds, and reconnect Jews with the divine. Honoring Shabbat has been compared to experiencing a small taste of the messianic world to come. By engaging in this weekly 25 hour sanctuary in time, Shabbat revitalizes Jews and reinforces Jewish identity and values. Whether at the synagogue, home, or community table, Shabbat brings Jews together across generations and geography, linking the past and future in sacred time.