DIY Shabbat
The meaning of the Sabbath is to celebrate time rather than space. Six days a week we live under the tyranny of things of space; on the Sabbath we try to become attuned to holiness in time. It is a day on which we are called upon to share in what is eternal in time, to turn from the results of creation to the mystery of creation; from the world of creation to the creation of the world.
Abraham Joshua Heschel
Shabbat is Judaism's best idea.
In a world that tries to make us into human doings, Shabbat comes to remind us that we are human beings.
Shabbat is a respite from the world - a time to step back from the chatter of commerce and do the things we really need to do - laugh, sing, connect, give thanks.
There are many ways to celebrate Shabbat, but one of the best ways to make Shabbat "happen" is simply with a meal - some friends or family, some wine, some food and some music.
What we have here are some of the basic rituals of shabbat dinner - these are resources, so feel free to add, subtract or change in any way you see fit. You cannot do this wrong.
This video from our friends at Mem Global gives an overview; details below...
Bring that Light Inside - Candles
The Blessings
We Are All Someone's Child - Blessing
The Blessing
יְבָרֶכְךָ יהוה, וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ / יָאֵר יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ / יִשָּׂא יהוה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
Y'varechecha Adonai V'yish'm'recha / Ya'er Adonai panav eilecha vichuneka / Yisa Adonai panav eilecha v'yasem l'cha shalom.
May The Holy One bless you and guard you / May The Holy One show you favor and be gracious to you / May The Holy One show you kindness and grant you peace.
Would you like wine with that? - Kiddush
The Psalmist points out that "wine gladdens the heart" (Ps 104:14) and wine is a powerful symbol of celebration at this most festive meal of the week. Traditionally, the kiddush cup is filled to near-overflowing to emphasize that Shabbat is a time overflowing with delight. The wine of kiddush is also the first thing we taste once Shabbat has started, so that we begin Shabbat with happiness and abundance.
FYI: While many people use kosher wine for kiddush, there is no need to use thick, sweet Manischewitz wine if you don't want to. There are plenty of great kosher wines on the market that are fine for kiddush, and locally, both Artisan and Viscount carry them.
The Blessing
בלחש: וַיְהִי עֶֽרֶב וַיְהִי בֹֽקֶר
יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי. וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַֽיִם וְהָאָֽרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם. וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה. וַיְבָֽרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ, כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ, אֲשֶר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת.
סַבְרִי מָרָנָן וְרַבָּנָן וְרַבּוֹתַי - בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְרָֽצָה בָֽנוּ, וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָֽנוּ זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית, כִּי הוּא יוֹם תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קֹֽדֶשׁ, זֵֽכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָֽיִם, כִּי בָֽנוּ בָחַֽרְתָּ וְאוֹתָֽנוּ קִדַּֽשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים, וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשְׁךָ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת.
[in a whisper] Vay'hi erev vay'hi voker yom hashishi.
Vay'chulu hashamayim v'hararetz v'cho tz'va-am. Vat'chal Elohim bayom hash'vi-I m'lachta asher asta. Vatishbot bayom hash'vi-I mikol m'lachta ahser asta. Vat'varech Elohim et yom hash'vi-I vat'kadesish oto, ki vo shavta mikol m'lachta asher bar'a Elohim la-asot.
Baruch atah adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam boray pri hagafen.
Baruch atah adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam ahser kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'ratazah vanu, ushabat kodsho b'ahava u'v'ratzon hinchilanu, zikaron l'ma'aseh v'resishit, ki hu yom t'chila l'mikra'ei kodesh zeicher litzi-at Mitzrayim, ki vanu vacharta, v'otanu kidashta im kol ha'amim v'shabbat kodshecha b'ahava uv'ratzon hinchaltanu. Baruch atah adonai m'kadesh hashabat.
And there was evening and there was morning: the sixth day. Heaven, earth, and all their beings were finished.
The Holy One completed on the seventh day the work that had been done, and ceased upon the seventh day from all the work that had been done. The Holy One blessed the seventh day and set it apart. For on it the Holy One had ceased from all the work that had been done in carrying out the Creation."
With the permission of this company:
Blessed are you, The Boundless One our God, the Source of All Life, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Praised are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, whose mitzvot uncover the holiness of our lives, cherishing us through the gift of Your holy Shabbat, granted lovingly, gladly, as a reminder of creation.
It is the first among our days of sacred assembly which recall the Exodus from Mitzrayim, the place of narrowness and constriction. Thus you have chosen us, endowing us with holiness by granting Your holy Shabbat lovingly and gladly. Praised are you Adonai, who hallows the Shabbat.