"'If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on My holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the L-RD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the L-RD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.' The mouth of the L-RD has spoken."
Isaiah 58:13-14, NIV
~*~
"Then He [Jesus] said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man,
not man for the Sabbath'."
Mark 2:27, NIV
Shabbat, the Sabbath, like all of our celebrations, is rich with tradition. Traditions can enrich or detract from Sabbath observance. Don't get so caught up in the rituals that they become a burden. Read what the Bible says about the Sabbath (References to get you started). Distinguish in your mind the difference between what the Bible says and what tradition says and have Shabbat Shalom! (a peaceful Sabbath).
WHEN IS THE SABBATH?
The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, beginning in the evening, and spanning until the evening of the next day. The evening comes before the morning [Genesis 1:5, 8,13, 19,23,31], according to the Bible.
The new evening is traditionally determined when three stars can be seen in the sky.
PARTS OF THE SABBATH
1. Remembrance:
Remember G-d rested on the seventh day of creation.
"And G-d blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. Genesis 2:3, NIV
Remember the exodus from Egypt.
"Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the L-RD your G-d brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the L-RD your G-d has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day." Deuteronomy 5:15, NIV
2. Observance:
Observing the laws about Sabbath, sanctifying [setting apart] the day, and doing no work.
"...The seventh day is a Sabbath to the L-RD your G-d. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor the alien within your gates, so that your manservant and maidservant may rest, as you do. Deuteronomy 5:14, NIV
Messianic Jews see a third meaning.
3. Anticipation: In this world, we have tribulation. We have heartache. We labor, not for eternal life, but for a good relationship with G-d and for eternal rewards. (The New Testament teaches that eternal life is a gift from G-d, given for faith in Jesus- John 3:16). The Sabbath day acts as a reminder and an encouragement to labor on the earth, looking forward to eternal rest.
"Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as G-d has said..." Hebrews 4:3, NIV
SABBATH PREPARATION
You know the musical Fiddler on the Roof. In one song, they sing about
being overworked, asking where else but Anatevka could Sabbath be so
sweet? I am convinced that the key to Shabbat Shalom (peaceful
Sabbath) is working like crazy six days of the week. Sabbath then
becomes so sweet.
Buy Challah, or make your own. Making your own is, in my opinion,
preferable, if you are home during the day on Friday. The smell of rising
and baking bread enhances sweet anticipation of the Sabbath, and it is a good opportunity to involve your children, as they help punch and knead and braid the dough. Sometimes in the course of my Friday, fatigue tempts me to stop and rest. The smell of fresh bread encourages me to continue, knowing that rest is near.
Challah, traditional Sabbath bread, is made with eggs. I happen to be highly allergic to eggs, so I make braided white bread instead. The kind of bread you serve isn't important. Remember, much of this is not Biblical, but traditional, so we have freedom to change things.
Bake or buy two loaves, as a reminder that G-d gave a double portion of manna the day before the Sabbath. Jews in the wilderness did not gather on Sabbath. But they did not go hungry.
Before Sabbath, finish your chores and prepare your food. Fish is eaten on Friday night, because its numerical value in Hebrew is seven, and the Sabbath is the seventh day of the week.
Empty the dishwasher. Set your oven, if it's on a timer. Make sure your clothes are clean, mended, and laid out. Some people put their electric lights on a timer, or leave them on. Bathe in hot water to cleanse the body, and put on clean fresh clothes. I like to change sheets, too.
Cleansing the body reminds us of spiritual cleansing that comes from confessing sins and seeking G-d's face. Changing clothes reminds us to rid ourselves of the concerns of the everyday, and put on a garment of godliness. If you have sin in your heart, confess it, and ask for G-d's cleansing.
David wrote, "...Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me..." Psalm 19:12,13, NIV
Messianic Jews also picture shedding our earthly bodies, with all of their sins and hurts, and being adorned with new bodies in heaven.
"Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." 2 Corinthians 5:2-4, NIV
CEREMONY
TZEDAKAH
Set aside a portion of your income to give to the poor. You can have a special box for this, called a Tzedakah box or pushke, and add to it before lighting the candles. Children enjoy decorating a plain box for a pushke. See also Shabbat Craft Ideas for Children
HEAD COVERINGS and PRAYER SHAWLS:
Men wear head coverings--usually a small kippah, but any head covering will do--during the ritual. Head coverings for men indicate their submission to G-d. Women wear a scarf that helps block out distractions during prayer. Men use prayer shawls with tassels. Women may use a prayer shawl, but usually don't.
CANDLE LIGHTING:
The privilege and responsibility of lighting the candles and saying the blessing belongs to the woman of the house. She lights the candles eighteen minutes before sundown. They should burn out on their own sometime after dark.
After lighting the candles, she spreads her hands out behind them, circling around toward her body, bringing the heat to her, three times. She retreats from distractions by bowing her head and covering her eyes, and recites the blessing. As with all Hebrew blessings, a chant, or song, passed down through the centuries, creates uniformity and helps with memorization.
If you don't know the Hebrew, you can say the translation, which is:
"Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commands, and commanded us to light the Sabbath lights."
After she chants or says the blessing, she prays however she wishes. It is her time to thank G-d and to ask His favor.
CHALLAH
After the candle lighting blessing comes the blessing of the bread,
which is said by the man of the house.
Before partaking of bread, he blesses G-d:
"Blessed are You, O L-RD our G-d, King of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth."
KIDDUSH CUP
Drink wine or grape juice out of a special cup used only on Sabbath or on other special occasions.
Before drinking, the man of the house says the blessing of the wine,
"Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who created the fruit of the vine."
At this time, parents say special prayers for their children to grow in faith and wisdom.
OBSERVANCE
During Sabbath, we not only rest, but immerse ourselves in the delight of the L-RD. Putting worldly pursuits and worries aside, it is time to leisurely study the Bible and leisurely pray and sing songs of worship and praise. Worship and praise are for every day, but during the Sabbath, we can take time to relish the L-RD, because work is not pressing.
It is considered good to eat, and not fast, on the Sabbath, because G-d delights to give His children all good things. If we enjoy eating and drinking, giving thanks to G-d who has given us all things, it is believed to be an act that is pleasing to G-d. Some people stay up into the night studying the Bible on the Sabbath.
AFTER THE SABBATH
HAVDALAH
The word Havdalah means "separate". The Havdalah ceremony at the end of the Sabbath reminds us to carry the sweetness of the Sabbath into our regular work week. The Havdalah can be longer, but usually only lasts a few minutes.
At the end of the Sabbath, when three stars can be seen in the sky, the Havdalah ceremony begins. You'll need the kiddush cup again, a box of sweet smelling spices, and a Havdalah candle.
One person recites or reads appropriate Scripture. Traditional Scriptures are:
Isaiah 12:2-3; Psalm 3:9; Psalm 46:12; Psalm 84:13; Psalm 20:10
Don't miss this opportunity to involve your kids.
All say together Esther 8:16-17:
"For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. In every province and in every city, wherever the edict of the king went, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them."
Then say: "May we also be so blessed."
Leader says the blessing of the wine
"Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who created the fruit of the vine."
and spills a little wine into a saucer, but does not drink the wine. This reminds us to allow the feeling of Sabbath to spill into the work week.
Now say the blessing of the spices
"Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who created many kinds of spices."
Pass around a box with beautiful smelling spices. Everyone smells the spices to remember the sweetness of Sabbath.
Now light the Havdalah candle. This is usually a double candle, twisted together with two wicks. If you don't have one, you can hold two candles together in one hand. Say the blessing over the candle.
"Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who has created the light of fire."
Everyone holds their hands up to the fire, letting the light reflect off their fingernails, to cast a shadow. This illustrates the difference between darkness and light, and makes use of the fire.
Say the Havdalah blessing:
"Blessed are You, O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, who created a distinction between the holy and the profane, between the light and the darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the rest of the week."
Everyone can now sip the wine, and the havdalah candle is extinguished in the wine in the saucer. If you are holding two candles, extinguish both wicks at once. And begin your work week.
MELAVA MALKA
This is not always done. Melava Malka means "Escorting the Queen". With this little celebration, we escort the queen (the Sabbath) out, and begin the regular work week. After the Havdalah, within four hours of the new evening, play music, dance, eat, and celebrate.
SABBATH IN THE BIBLE
We love our traditions, but remember to follow the Bible first and foremost.
Exodus 16:23-30; Exodus 20:8-11; Exodus 31:16-17; Exodus 35:2-3; Leviticus 24:8; Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Nehemiah 10:31; Nehemiah 13:16-22; Isaiah 56:2; Isaiah 58:13; Jeremiah 17:21-23
NEW TESTAMENT TEACHING ON SABBATH: Matthew 12:1-12; Mark 1:21; Mark 2:23- 3:6; Luke 4:16, 31; Luke 13:10-16; Luke 23:54-56; John 5:16-18; John 7:24; Colossians 2:16-17
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