The Torah tells us that God created the heavens and the earth in six days. By the seventh day, the work of Creation was completed, and on that day the Almighty did not create anything. Thus this day was sanctified and turned into a day of rest, Shabbat
The people of Israel are the first people in history to introduce the custom of not working on the seventh day of the week, but of resting from work. Both workers and slaves of Jews, and even pets owned by Jews, are prohibited from working on the Sabbath.
Shabbat - this is the highest social achievement, designed to free a person and his consciousness for the high. spiritual activities, to strengthen family and friendly ties between people. However, this still far from exhausts the meaning of the Sabbath.
Keeping the Sabbath is a person’s expression of his faith in G-d, the Creator of the Universe, and the recognition that in addition to our material world, there are also high spiritual worlds.
The Jews rested on the Sabbath while still in Egyptian slavery. Moses, who grew up in Pharaoh's house, saw how exhaustingly his brothers worked, turned to Pharaoh with a request to give these unfortunate slaves one day a week to rest. Pharaoh agreed. Thus, Saturday reminds us not only of the creation of the world by the Almighty, but also of the exodus from Egypt.
The commandments of the Torah related to the observance of the Sabbath are divided into two groups:
- commandments requiring rest from work; - commandments prohibiting working on Saturday.
The first give the Sabbath its homely, family appearance. On this day, all family members stay at home, go to the community (synagogue) to pray and listen to the Torah reading, and then they all sit down together for the Shabbat meal.
The commandments prohibiting work on the Sabbath give it a different shade - a shade of seriousness. What is this work? The Torah answers that work is any action that creates something new.
Since ancient times, keeping the Sabbath has been a distinctive feature of the Jews. And, as the ancient saying says, “more than the people of Israel protect the Sabbath, the Sabbath protects the people of Israel.”
LIGHT THE SABBATH CANDLE
BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELOEINU MELECH AOLAM,ASHER KIDSHANU BEMITZVOTAV VETSIVANU LEADLIK NER SHEL SHABAT
If the house is dark, how sad it is! And the Torah tells us that the Sabbath should be a delight for us. That is whyWe light candles before Shabbat.
According to Jewish tradition, the day begins in the evening. That is, at sunset a new day begins. Therefore, Saturday begins when the sun sets on Friday.
Just before the onset of Saturday, mother lights the Shabbat candles, and this means that the coming day is being sanctified.
Mom covers her eyes with her palms when she says, “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candle!”
Without opening her eyes, at this holy moment she raises a prayer to the Almighty for the well-being of her family and the health of her children. Then she looks at the burning candles, the lights of which are reflected in her sparkling eyes, and blesses the whole family with a wish: Shabbat Shalom! -"Peaceful Saturday!"
Thus, by lighting Shabbat candles, a Jewish woman most fully fulfills her role - to bring light, beauty and goodness into the house.
SHALOM ALAICHEM
BOAHEM LESHALOM MALACHEY ASHALOMMALACHEY ELION
MIMELECH MALCHEY AMLACHIM AKADOSH BARUCH U.
When dad, dressed in beautiful Sabbath clothes, having forgotten about everyday worries and anticipating the complete peace of the Sabbath day, goes to the community (synagogue), he is like a king who freely manages his time and is free in his actions.
And, the Jewish tradition tells us, when he returns to his palace, he is accompanied by a retinue - two angels of the Most High. One of them is a good angel, the other is an evil one. If they enter a house where Shabbat candles are burning, where the festive table is set with challah (bread), and the wine prepared for Kiddush is purple in a shiny decanter, waiting for the moment when it is poured into a silver glass standing right there, a good angel says: “God grant that it will be the same next Saturday!” And the evil angel answers “amen” against his will.
However, if the table is empty and it is clear that the Sabbath is not respected in this house, the evil angel steps in and says: “God grant that it will be the same next Saturday!” And against his will the good angel is forced to answer “amen”...
In honor of these angels and in honor of Holy Saturday, dad and his whole family sing, returning from the synagogue and standing near the festively laid table: Shalom Aleichem... - "Peace be with you, angels, servants of the Most High..."
1. SHALOM ALAICHEM MALACHEI ASHARETH
MALACHEY ELION MIMELECH MALCHEY AMLAHIM
AKADOSH BARUCH HU.PEACE TO YOU MINISTERING ANGELS,
MESSENGERS OF THE MOST HIGH, THE KING OF KINGS,
HOLY BLESSED IS HE - 3 times2.BOAHEM LESHALOM MALACHEY ASHALOM
MALACHEI ELION MIMELECH MALCHEY AMLAHIM
AKADOSH BARUCH HU.COME IN PEACE, ANGELS OF PEACE,
MESSENGERS OF THE MOST HIGH, THE KING OF KINGS
HOLY BLESSED IS HE - 3 times3. BARKHUNI LESHALOM MALACHEY ASHALOM
AKADOSH BARUCH HUGREET ME WITH THE WORD "PEACE", ANGELS OF PEACE,
MESSENGERS OF THE MOST HIGH, THE KING OF KINGS
HOLY BLESSED IS HE - 3 times4. TSETHEM LESHALOM MALACHEI ASHALOM
MALACHEY ELYON MIMELECH MALCHEY AMLAHIM
AKADOSH BARUCH HUREST IN PEACE, ANGELS OF PEACE,
MESSENGERS OF THE MOST HIGH, THE KING OF KINGS
HOLY BLESSED IS HE - 3 times
KIDDUSH
YOM ASHISHI. VAEKHULU ASHAMAYIM BEAARETZ VEKHOL TZVAAM. VAEKHAL ELOIM BAYOM ASHVIY MIKOL MLAKHTO ASHER ASA, VAISHBOT BAYOM ASHVIY MIKOL MLAKHTO ASHER ASA. VAEVAREKH ELOYIM E-YOM ASHVII VAEKADESH OTO, KI VO SHAVAT MIKOL-MLAHTO, ASHEP BARA ELOYIM LAACOT. ...
“Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it,” the Torah tells us, andwe must prove by deeds that we remember the Sabbath day and its holiness. 
How exactly should this be done? Solemnly declaring our belief that the Almighty created the whole world in six days and, having completed His work on the seventh day, sanctified this day, as well as the connection of the holiness of the Sabbath with the memory of the exodus of our people from Egypt. This is Kiddush.
According to our tradition, Kiddush is performed before the first Shabbat meal, in the evening. after the Sabbath. Dad stands at the table, holding a glass full of wine in his hand, the whole family stands around and listens carefully to the words of “Kiddush” and then answers: Amen!
Dad sits down, takes a sip of wine and lets everyone try from his glass. Only after this does the Shabbat meal begin.
The moment when Kiddush is made is a holy moment in every Jewish home, when the whole family together expresses their faith in the Creator of the Universe and their willingness to do His will.
"KIDDUSH", PERFORMED ON FRIDAY EVENING.
Psalm of David.
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I WILL NOT LACK ANYTHING. THE LUXURIOUS MEADOWS WILL GIVE ME A REST, WILL LEAD ME TO CALM WATERS. HE WILL CALM MY SOUL; HE WILL LEAD ME ON STRAIGHT PATHS FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE. EVEN IF I WILL PASS A GORGE IN THE DARKNESS OF THE GRAVE, I WILL NOT FEAR Evil, FOR YOU ARE WITH ME; YOUR INSTRUCTION AND YOUR SUPPORT WILL CONSOLE ME. WILL YOU SET THE TABLE BEFORE ME IN THE VIEW OF MY ENEMIES, WILL YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL; MY CUP WILL BE FULL. MAY ONLY GOOD AND LOVE ACCOMPANY ME ALL DAYS OF MY LIFE AND I WILL BE IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD FOR LONG YEARS. (Tehillim 23 - Psalm 22).
Take a glass to right hand, after that they take it with their left hand and place it on the palm of their right. Kiddush is said while standing. Saying “AND THEY WERE COMPLETED...”, they look at the candle flames. During the blessing over the wine and the blessing that follows, they look at the glass.
"THE SIXTH DAY. AND THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH WERE COMPLETED WITH ALL THEIR WAR. AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY GOD FINISHED HIS WORK IN WHICH HE WAS ENGAGED, AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY HE DID NOT DO ANY OF THE WORKS IN WHICH HE WAS BUSY, AND THE BLESS GOD FORWARD THE SEVENTH DAY, AND SANCTIFYED HIM, FOR ON THIS [DAY] HE DID NOT PERFORM ANY OF HIS WORKS THAT HE WAS DOING [BEFORE] AND WHICH [INTENDED] TO DO [AFTER THIS]."Over wine:
BLESSED ARE YOU, LORD OUR GOD, LORD OF THE UNIVERSE, WHO CREATED THE FRUIT OF THE GRAPE VINE!
Over bread:
BLESSED ARE YOU, LORD OUR GOD, LORD OF THE UNIVERSE, WHO GREW BREAD FROM THE GROUND!
WASHING YOUR HANDS BEFORE EATING
BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELOEINU MELECH AOLAM, ASHER KIDSHANU BEMITSVOTAV VEZIVANU AL NETILAT YADAIM.
When we are about to start eating bread, we first wash our hands.
We do this with the help of a mug from which we pour water onto each hand.
Jewish tradition compares dinner table with an altar on which sacrifices are made to the Almighty. We do not consider the process of eating food only as satisfying our physiological needs. We see in it an expression of concern for the health of our body - so that it can be used to achieve higher goals, to fulfill the high purpose of man. Just as the priest approached the altar in the Temple only after washing his hands from a special washbasin, so we wash our hands before eating - when we begin to accomplish something that is filled with the highest spiritual significance.
Of course, there is another meaning in washing our hands before eating - hygienic, aesthetic: we clean our hands before touching food.
Having washed our hands, we bless the Almighty for commanding us to wash our hands, wipe them dry and immediately start eating.
BRACHA FOR BREAD
BARUX ATA ADONAI ELOEINU MELECH AOLAM, HAMOTZI LECHEM MIN HAAREZ.
Bread is the main human food product. The only meal considered a real meal is when bread is eaten. In Jewish tradition, a separate blessing has been established for bread, which marks it as a special gift from the Almighty to man.
BARUX ATA ADONAI ELOEINU MELECH AOLAM, HAMOTZI LECHEM
MIN HAARETS. Blessed are you, Lord, our God, King of the Universe, Who grows bread from the ground.
This blessing opens the meal, and then there is no need to pronounce blessings on other types of food - if they are integral part meals.
Immediately after the blessing, it is customary to cut off a piece of bread, dip it in salt and eat it.
When sacrifices were made in the Temple, they were sure to be salted before being burned on the altar. As already mentioned, Jewish tradition likens the dining table to the altar in the Temple.
SATURDAY MEAL
The meal is one of the most important moments of the Sabbath, conveying its mood to the entire Sabbath day. The whole family gathers at the table, everyone has forgotten about the needs, the worries of everyday life, everyone is calm - after all, there is nowhere to rush...
The table is set in a special, festive way. Candles are burning, wine, a magnificent silver glass: two challahs covered with a beautifully embroidered napkin... 
The Torah says that when the Jews walked through the desert, leaving Egypt, the Almighty fed them with heavenly bread, which was called manna (manna). However, on the Sabbath manna did not fall from the sky, and the children of Israel did not go out of camp to gather it. Instead, on Friday the Almighty gave them a double portion mana. In memory of this, on Shabbat we place two challahs on the table - lechem mishneh.
Sang ShalomAleichem, have made Kiddush - now it’s your turn to wash your hands and sit down at the table.
The Shabbat meal should consist of the best food: fish, meat and those delicacies that the family loves most.
During the Shabbat meal the whole family sings Zmirot Shabbat- Shabbat songs, known and loved among the Jewish people from generation to generation. An atmosphere of peace, joy and holiness reigns in the house...
The family table meeting every Saturday provides an opportunity to talk about everything that happened during the week. The father examines the children, asking them what they have done during the week, and talks about the content of the weekly Torah portion and examples of moral behavior.
“May the Almighty be pleased to overshadow His people with His presence, tasting the honeyed sweetness of the Sabbath dishes...” - as it is sung in one Sabbath song.
SONG OF THE STEPS
SHIR HAMAALOT, BESHUV ADONAI ET SHIVAT GIYON AYNU KEHOLMIM...
On Saturdays and holidays after meals, before reading Birkash hamazon, it is customary to sing a chapter frombooks Tehillim (Psalms of Ascension) - Songsteps. The whole family sings it - in each community to its own tune, according to its customs.
Thus, the family identifies itself with the entire people of Israel, expressing faith in the soon and complete liberation from exile - when the entire Jewish people will return to Zion and live according to the laws they inherited from their great ancestors.
The time of exile and the hope of redemption are expressed in this chapter of Tehillim in the image of a farmer sowing his field in tears. These tears are not tears of suffering, but tears of hope, tears of one who sees endless troubles, but firmly believes that in the end joy and gladness will come: “Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of rejoicing!”
Psalm 125 Song of Ascension.
When the Lord returned the captivity of Zion, we were as if seeing in a dream: then our lips were full of joy, and our tongue was full of singing;
Then they said among the nations: “The Lord has done great things for them!”
The Lord did great things for us: we rejoiced.
Bring back, O Lord, our captives like streams at noon.
Those who sow in tears will reap with joy.
Weeping, the one who bears the seeds will return with joy, bearing his sheaves.
BIRKAT GAMAZON
BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELOEINU MELECH AOLAM, AZAN ET AOLAM KULO BETUVO, BEKHEN UVEHESED UVERACHAMIM, U NOTEN LECHEM LECHOL BASAR, KI LEOLAM HASDO...
Having finished the meal, we thank the Almighty for giving us the opportunity to satisfy our hunger, we read Birkat hamazon.
Think for yourself: if it is appropriate to bless the Almighty before eating, then after eating, when we are full, it is even more appropriate to do this. We don’t want to be ungrateful and therefore after eating we say to the Almighty: “Thank you!”
Birkat hamazon contains an expression of gratitude to the Almighty for the fact that He cares about the food of each of His creatures: billions of living creatures living on the earth have the opportunity to satisfy their physical needs by finding food - each one exactly what he needs.
However, we do not limit ourselves to gratitude just for satisfying our hunger. We thank the Almighty - and this is the main thing! - for the fact that He also honored us with spiritual heritage, the property of G-d’s people: the Torah, the Land of Israel, Jerusalem, the Temple, that is, the highest moral values closely related to our country, because it is there that we are obliged to make them reality and from there spread throughout the world.
Ends Birkat hamazon prayer for peace, for the feeling of satiety largely depends on whether a person is in peace and quiet. "The Lord will give strength to His people. The Lord will bless His people by giving them peace."(Tehillim 29:11,Psalms 28:11)
GAVDALA
BARUCH ATA ADONAI ELOEINU MELECH AOLAM, AMAVDIL BEIN KODESH LECHOL, BEIN OR LEHOSHECH, BEIN YISRAEL LAAMIM, BEIN YOM ASHVII LESHESHET YEMEI AMAASE. BARUCH ATA ADONAI, AMAVDIL BEIN KODESH LECHOL.
The ability to distinguish some objects, phenomena, ideas from others by analyzing their properties is the basis of the human mind. The ability to distinguish the sacred from the everyday, the important from the secondary is the most the essence of it what a believer is called to do.
At nightfall, when we say goodbye to the Sabbath, the last honor we pay to it is to perform the rite of “Gavdala”: we draw the line between the holy Saturday and the weekdays that follow it.
MESSIANIAN VIEW
One of the 10 commandments reads:
Deuteronomy 5:12-15 (Deuteronomy) “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord has commanded you, God is yours; Six days you shall work and do all your work, and the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. You shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your maidservant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your livestock, nor your stranger who is with you, so that your servant and your handmaid are rested, as are you; And remember that [you] were a slave in the land of Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the Sabbath day."
What did our Rav Yeshua say about Shabbat (Saturday)?
Mark 2:23-28 “And it happened on the Sabbath that He passed through the sown [fields], and His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain along the way. And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, what are they doing on the Sabbath, which ought not [to be done]? He said to them: Have you never read what David did when he was in need and he and those with him were hungry? How he entered the house of God with Abiathar the high priest and ate the showbread, which no one should eat except the priests, and he gave him? And he said to them: Sabbath is for man, not man for Sabbath; 28 therefore The Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath."
There is no mention of abolishing the Sabbath. It talks about ritual and religiosity. After all, on this day of the week we step away from work to glorify the Almighty. Yes, we must worship Him and praise Him in our hearts. And there are circumstances when we can save a person from trouble on Saturday. Yeshua, as a true Jew, observed Shabbat and other holidays. But sometimes with our own good deeds(healings) on Shabbat (Saturday) showed that the state of a person’s heart is important before God, and not just a mechanical ritual performance of the holiday “without soul and heart.”
Did Jesus come to abolish God's law? Matthew 5:17 - words of Jesus: “Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill.”.
He said that he came to FULFILL the law, for only by grace, with His help, can we fulfill the law of God!
But this does not mean that if we are under grace, then we do not need the law of God, we can throw it away, make it OLD, old, unnecessary and do not need to be fulfilled.
They say there is no need to fulfill the 10 commandments (which Jesus supplemented in the Sermon on the MOUNT - Matt. 5 - 7 chapters), grace will cover all our iniquities and sins. We believe a little, we sin a little, Jesus will still forgive. We are under grace, not under the law! Yeshua even made the law stricter! Let's read about this carefully in the 5th chapter of Matthew.
On almost every excursion in Jerusalem I am asked: “Tanya, what is Shabbat?” Sometimes they offer their own options, which are very erroneous. Sometimes they even draw an analogy with the Sabbath. Therefore, I decided to write on this topic for those who are planning to come to Israel.
Shabbat is the seventh day of the week, which is essentially a holiday for Jews. Already the day before Shabbat, Jews begin to wish each other “Shabbat Shalom,” that is, “peaceful Saturday” or “hello Saturday.” The main rule of Saturday (Shabbat) is that a person should not work. Isn't it a wonderful condition? But everything is not so simple, because the Jews call work on Shabbat something that you may not associate with it at all. For example, writing (although you can read, but religious literature), or hanging laundry, or turning on/off the light, you can’t even tie your shoelaces. It's easier to say what can be done. But what is possible is quite enough for a Jew, since you need to devote this day to God and family. You might think that it’s impossible to spend the day with family if you can’t properly cook a meal and take the kids to an amusement park? But it turns out that what is much more important for a family is love, communication and attention. And there are all conditions for this on Shabbat.
Jews celebrate Shabbat with a Shabbat meal. The woman lights the candles, the husband reads the blessing for Shabbat, Shabbat wine (similar to Cahors) or grape juice is poured, and challah, a special bread for Shabbat, is broken. The whole family sits around the table and celebrates Shabbat - they communicate, eat, sing songs. Shabbat begins at sunset on Friday and ends on Saturday, also at sunset. For a traditional Jew, Shabbat is a Holy Day, so it is not only celebrated, but also seen off. The ceremony is called "Havdalah" from the word "to separate" - you need to separate the holy day from everyday life. 
Shabbat for a Jew is one of the ten main commandments received by Moses on Mount Sinai (we read the Bible), which must be followed. In Israel the tradition is very strong and many Jews observe the Sabbath.
Shabbat has a powerful philosophical, spiritual background. There are many interpretations of the meaning of Shabbat. But the basics are as follows:
The Bible says that the Lord created all things in 6 days, and on the seventh day he rested from the process of creation. "And God finished his work which he had done on the seventh day, and rested ( Shabbat) on the seventh day from all His works that He did. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on it He rested from all His works, which God had created and created."(Gen.)
So he bequeathed to the Jews: " Say to the children of Israel, “You shall keep My Sabbaths, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you; and keep the Sabbath, for it is holy to you: whoever defiles it shall be put to death; whoever begins to do business in it, that soul must be destroyed from among his people; Six days let them do their work, and on the seventh a Sabbath of rest, dedicated to the Lord."(Ex.)
To this day, Jews try to the best of their ability and desire to observe Holy Saturday. This means that a tourist arriving in Israel and, for example, wanting to go on an excursion in Jerusalem with or without a Jerusalem guide, must take into account several points.
1. Already on Friday, towards evening, most establishments in the city begin to close: shops, restaurants, many museums. They will open either at the end of Saturday (in the evening) or the next day (Sunday).
2. Public transport does not work on Shabbat, so you need to take this into account when planning your day. If you are not staying in Jerusalem and want to come on a tour of Jerusalem on Friday, then plan the first half of the day to catch the last bus before the start of Shabbat or come by your own transport (optionally, on a tour transfer). If you have an excursion planned in Jerusalem on Saturday, count either on a taxi, or book an excursion with transfer (convenient, not cheap), or rent a car the day before and arrive in it.
3. Shabbat elevator. It’s very funny to listen to perplexed tourists who, without knowing it, used such an elevator. The fact is that in order not to press the elevator button on Shabbat (not to break the commandment - not to work and not to light a fire), elevators were created that move independently on Shabbat, constantly stopping on each floor. There are such elevators in many Israeli hotels, and tourists sometimes begin to panic when they get into them. So: don’t panic - the elevator will take you to the desired floor, but it will take longer than usual. By the way, as a rule, the hotel also has a regular elevator, for tourists - not Jews.
4. And, of course, if you are lucky enough to go on an excursion to Jerusalem on Friday or Saturday, then be sure to visit the Western Wall (Western Wall). You will get a special, unforgettable experience if you are there on the eve of Shabbat, between 4 and 6 pm on Friday.
Israel is a secular state and religious freedom reigns here. Every Jew in the country observes Shabbat as he wishes. Some strictly follow all the rules, some do not follow them at all.
Tourists are not required to observe any Jewish Sabbath norms, but they will have to be taken into account.
In some hotels you can see an interesting picture - elevators whose buttons do not work. These elevators travel automatically between floors. This is an attempt to observe the norms of Shabbat, because you cannot press buttons.
Typically, only a few elevators in the hotel operate on this Saturday schedule, while the remaining elevators operate as usual.
Sometimes in the corridors and lobbies of hotels they turn off electric lighting and light the candles. Lighting candles is one of the important Sabbath traditions in Israel.
The menu in hotel restaurants on Saturday may differ from regular days; there may not be fresh boiled eggs or toast for breakfast.
Of course, each hotel chooses for itself whether to introduce some special features in honor of Shabbat or not. In any case, all hotel services are working normally, you can receive any service.
The main thing for tourists is that it doesn’t work public transport. Rail traffic stops completely. Bus lines are closed with limited exceptions. Ask your hotel reception about which lines are operating in the city where you are staying on Saturday.
Some streets are completely closed to traffic on Saturday. Fortunately, there are only a few such streets, so follow the road signs.
Some cities in Israel even have special roadside electronic signs counting down the time until the start of Shabbat.
Taxis work, which somewhat softens the situation. But don’t forget about the +25% surcharge on taxi driver services at this time.
Many attractions are closed and there are no rules. For example, on Shabbat it is open and the area around it is crowded. Inquire in advance about the operating mode of the object of interest.
All emergency services and medical facilities are operating as usual on Saturday.
Welcome to new version Sokhnut website. In the future, I, Misha Beshkin, will be leading the History and Tradition column. As far as possible, we will become acquainted with the Weekly Chapters of the Torah, Jewish traditions and laws. I hope the knowledge that we can gain together will help us better understand what it means to lead a Jewish way of life.
Today we will begin to examine the laws of Shabbat. Shabbat is a special day. The sages say that the Sabbath preserved the Jewish people. Not even the Torah and Talmud, but Shabbat. Why? The answer can be found if you try to observe the laws of Shabbat for at least some time. Let me give just a few examples:
1. Food on Shabbat. You cannot cook hot food on Shabbat, and in order to enjoy a good tasty and most importantly hot lunch, you need to prepare hot food before Shabbat and keep it hot until lunch on Shabbat. This is where all the ingenuity of Jewish housewives comes into play. This is where many famous Jewish dishes take their roots - cholent, tzimmes, kugol. These are dishes that can be kept warm for a long time and only become tastier because of it.
2. Entertainment on Shabbat. Shabbat is a special day and filled with great spiritual meaning, so most of Saturday is dedicated to spiritual self-improvement and knowledge. Entertainment that is common for other people is unfortunately (or fortunately) not available on this day. If you look at the program of concerts and TV shows, you get the impression that the most interesting things usually happen on Saturday or Friday evening. This is probably true, and I personally was worried that I couldn’t go to the concerts of my favorite bands. But what Shabbat really gives is a feeling incomparable to a good party - a feeling of belonging to a large people, who at this very moment forget about the idle bustle and sit down at the festive table.
3. Work on Shabbat. This is one day a week when you need to not only stop working, but also stop thinking about it. What other people have such a day? Today's rhythm of life requires a lot of strength and energy from a person. To achieve anything in life, you need to work hard. These are all axioms today. But sometimes you need to stop and switch to something else. There are many ways to do this, and happy people are those who know how to disconnect from work. Jews are hardworking people and the Almighty took care of us by forcing us not to work for one day. It is He who forces us to give up work on Shabbat, otherwise some of us would work 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
I think I have given enough examples to show how Shabbat sets us apart from other nations. In the future, we will look at the laws of Shabbat in more detail, but for now, let’s start with a small list of FAQs (frequently asked questions):
In the future, I think that it will be possible to add to this list, so that if a question arises, I could take a look.
Now that we have more or less understood the main aspects associated with Shabbat, we can begin to consider the laws of Shabbat.
The laws that determine what can and cannot be done on Shabbat are divided into 39 types of work. But here we need to make one very important caveat:
Working on Shabbat is a slightly different term than we are used to understanding. It would be more correct to call this action melacha, i.e. some action that is prohibited on Shabbat. In Russian it sounds somewhat cumbersome, which is why it was translated as “work”; we will also use this word for convenience.
1. Food production:
1.1. plow
1.2. sow
1.3. reap
1.4. knit sheaves
1.5. thresh
1.6. winnow
1.7. sort through
1.8. sift
1.9. grind
1.10. knead (dough)
1.11 cook (or bake bread);
2. Garment making:
2.1. cut
2.2. comb
2.3. bleach and dye (wool)
2.4. spin
2.5. straighten the threads
2.6. install longitudinal threads in a loom
2.7. weave
2.8. unweave
2.9. tie and untie knots
2.10. cut
2.11. sew and tear (rip);
3. Construction of a dwelling and lighting a fire:
3.1. build and destroy for the purpose of new construction
3.2. light and extinguish
3.3. deliver the finishing blow
3.4. transfer burdens from private property to public property;
4. Writing letters, making dyes and writing materials:
4.1. write and erase what is written
4.2. catch (hunt animals)
4.3. kill
4.4. skinning
4.5 tan and scrape it.
As you can see, this entire list of works represents man as a creator and ruler over nature. That is why all these actions are prohibited on Shabbat, because the Lord of the Universe himself rested on this day, and ordered the Jews not to do any work on Shabbat.
Do not think that absolutely everything is prohibited on Shabbat and that it is an extremely boring day. In general, there is plenty of entertainment: walks, reading books, conversations with loved ones. This is far from full list those things that can be redone in so much time a short time. Sometimes I really regret that Shabbat is over - there is so much left to read.
That's it this time. I repeat once again, try to spend Shabbat according to the laws a couple of times, this is at least interesting experience. To make sure everything turns out interesting and according to the rules, I recommend finding knowledgeable person, who himself observes and will help you understand the many laws of Shabbat.
I'm waiting for comments and questions,
Misha Beshkin
01/20/2006 | Kurashov Nikolay | [email protected]
"4. Should non-Jews keep the laws of the Sabbath?"
YES We must... No, the Almighty made a covenant NOT only with the Jewish people and NOT only with you, Exodus 19:8-11 was told
11/23/2010 | Ivan Boryagin | [email protected]
Misha, Thanks a lot for this useful start - publishing basic information about Judaism!
The article mentions the word "covenant", which is currently the subject of my personal research. G‑d's individual covenants with the patriarchs are clear, but I would like to know more about G‑d's covenant with all nations. I came across a mention of it in Scripture while studying all the places with the word "covenant". Can you tell us in more detail about covenants in general and about the covenant with all nations in particular?
Jews have a weekly holiday that is celebrated every Friday at sunset. It is called “Shabbat Shalom”, which translated means “Hello Saturday”. Every Jew reveres the sixth day of the week, which reminds him of his spiritual purpose in life. Let's find out Shabbat - what kind of holiday it is and how it is celebrated in Israel.
According to the Pentateuch, the Sabbath was given by God at the end of the sixth day when man was created:
“And God finished on the seventh day His works which He had done, and He rested (Sabbath) on the seventh day from all His works which He had done. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on it He rested from all His works, which God had created and created (Gen. 2:2-3).”
Previously, God blessed the fish, animals and birds he created (Gen. 1:22), then man and the Sabbath. In addition, according to the Torah, he sanctified the Sabbath. This is the only example in Scripture of something being blessed and sanctified at the same time.
According to the Pentateuch, the Sabbath is a sign between God and Israel:
“This is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever, because in six days the Lord created heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed (Exodus 31:17).”
The Sabbath is a sign of the covenant (that is, a symbol of the union) between God and the people of Israel. It is said in the Torah: “You shall keep My Sabbaths, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Ex. 31:13). It is said in the Sabbath prayers: “And You did not give the Sabbath to the nations of the world, nor did You give it to the idolaters, but only to Israel, Your people whom You chose.”
The famous Kabbalist Yehuda Alevi (author of Kuzari) said that, thanks to the laws of the Sabbath, the Jewish people were able to survive through many centuries of exile and persecution. He explained that when a person is saturated with the light of the Sabbath, even in the most difficult circumstances, faith in God does not leave him. The Sabbath reminds every Jew of his specialness, because the observance of its rituals distinguishes this people from others.
Saturday is family celebration. It strengthens relationships between spouses, children and the older generation. On this day the whole family gathers for festive table, sing songs, go to synagogue. A space arises when a person can take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and think about his purpose.
A God-fearing Jew does not go anywhere on Saturday, does not cook food, does not use electrical appliances, does not spend money, does not smoke and does not write. On this day he is indifferent to the achievements of technology. The radio is silent, the TV screen has gone dark.
Sports games, circus, theatrical performances, highways are not for him.
In Israel, a woman is called the “light of the house.” She has an important role in preparing for Shabbat. Jews have a centuries-old tradition of baking challah for the great holiday. A woman baking holiday bread with her own hands is fulfilling one of the sacred mitzvahs. Preparations for the holiday begin on Friday morning. The woman begins to prepare challah and various dishes to the table. At the same time, she tastes every prepared dish.
But she must do this correctly: not spit out the food, but swallow the food, saying Brahi. The festive table must be covered with a tablecloth until the end of the holiday (preferably white). Before Shabbat, every man and every woman takes a bath or shower. If there is little time left before the holiday, then only washing your hands and face with water is allowed.
Meeting Saturday ( kabbalat sabbath) occurs according to Jewish tradition the night before yom shishi(on Friday) at Erev Shabbat. The ceremony begins blessing of light and wine. Light and wine are the keys to this day. The housewife lights the candles no later than 18 minutes before sunset and says traditional blessing:
Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu, Melech Haolam, asher kidshanu bemitsvotav vetzianu letadlik ner shel Shabbat! – “ Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candles!”
Usually they read Psalms 92, 94-98, 28, and sing Shabbat songs: “ Lekha Dodi», « Shalom Aleichem" and others. Then parents bless their children – Birkat Habanim (Bereshit.48:20, Bemidbar.6:24-26). The father puts his hands on the child's head and says blessing: for boys – « Yesimha Elohim keEfraim ve keMenashe"-" May God make you like Ephraim and Menasha"; and for girls– « Yesimech Elohim KeSara, Rivkah, Rachel beLeah” - “May God make you like Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah.”
After this, the husband sings to his wife a hymn in praise of a worthy womanEshet hail- from the book of Shlomo Tehilim(chapter 31, verses 10-31), in which the man pays tribute to the lady of the house.
This is one of the main moments of the holiday. The family gathers at the Friday table, on which candles are already burning. Household members and guests should sit down at the festive table in good mood, forgetting about the problems of everyday life and anxiety. Before eating, Jews sing “Shalom Aleichem,” make Kiddush, and wash their hands. Shabbat is coming. Its start time is sunset on Friday.
The whole family begins the meal, which should consist of the best food: fish, meat and various delicacies. 2 challahs are served on the table when Shabbat arrives. What is it and why is it eaten in double size? Challah is white bread that a Jewish woman prepares for Peaceful Saturday. 2 servings of holiday bread are placed on the table in memory of the heavenly manna that the Almighty gave to the Jews when they returned from Egypt through the desert.
On that day, God gave people twice as much heavenly bread. Manna is the bread of heaven. On Shabbat it is associated with challah. During the holiday meal, Jews sing Shabbat songs. It is believed that during Shabbat an atmosphere of joy and peace should reign in the house. Everyone who has gathered at the festive table is discussing the events of the current week or telling interesting stories from life.
At the end of the Sabbath, at the evening meal, a special prayer is said over a cup of wine - havdalah. The word havdalah literally means “separation” or “division” in Hebrew. This is precisely the meaning of the short, but beautiful with its rituals and symbolism, the service of the end of Shabbat. Havdalah is what separates Shabbat from other days, separating the sacred from the everyday.
By ancient tradition Havdalah begins the moment darkness falls and at least three stars become visible. With the onset of such darkness, the Havdalah candle is lit. This candle is special, wicker and with several wicks. The candle burns brightly, like a torch, illuminating the entire room. Looking at the flame of a candle, they remember the words written in the book of Tehilim - Psalm 18: 9 “The commandments of the Lord are righteous, they make glad the heart; The commandment of the Lord is bright, it enlightens the eyes.” The Havdalah candle reminds us that it was on the first day of the week, which begins now, that God created light. Along with the light, darkness was also created.
After the candle has been lit, a glass of kiddush is raised, a passage from the book of the prophet Isaiah is read, and a prayer of blessing the grape fruit is said. The glass is overfilled on purpose, because a full glass is a symbol of joy, and as a sign of excessive joy, wine is spilled over the edge onto the saucer under the glass. The fruit of the vine recalls the past, how in the ancient times of the temple gifts and outpourings were offered to God on His altar. The fruit of the grape also reminds us of the blood sacrifices that were made for the sins of people. Not forgetting that the source of salvation and redemption is God himself, read an excerpt from the book of Isaiah:
“Behold, God is my salvation: I trust in Him and do not fear; For the Lord is my strength, and my song is the Lord; and He was my salvation. And with joy you will draw water from the fountains of salvation” (Yeshayahu – Isaiah 12).
A box with fragrant spices inside is passed around the room. The aroma of spices also reminds of an ancient temple. After all, it was inside, in the holy monastery, that there was an altar of incense, on which aromatic herbs were burned. The smoke from the incense rose upward, symbolizing the prayers of Israel directed to the Almighty.
A glass is raised and a prayer of separation is said. Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who separates between the holy and the ordinary, between light and darkness, between the seventh day and the six days of creation. Blessed are You, Lord, who separates between the holy and the ordinary.
After saying this prayer, the glass is drunk and the candle is extinguished in the wine spilled on the saucer. Thus, the Havdal ceremony ends and, according to tradition, everyone sits down to dinner. Songs are sung at the table, passages from the Tanakh and stories are remembered, which are then discussed among friends and relatives.
Jews believe that Shabbat is not only an “eternal union” between God and His people, but also a universal phenomenon: it serves as a guarantee of a better world. The teachers of the Talmudic era eloquently describe the meaning of the Sabbath: “If Israel observes one thing, the Sabbath, properly, the Messiah will not hesitate to come.”
There are thirty-nine types of work (prohibited on the Sabbath). This:
These eleven points, as we see, represent the main types of work included in the process of making bread “lechem hapanim” (according to the Jerusalem Talmud) or for the production of dyes that were made to color the coverings of the Mishkan. The following thirteen points “describe” the process of producing the material that covers the mishkan.
The following seven points give the names of the main types of work that make up the preparatory process for the production of leather products, which also serve for the veil of the Mishkan.
In the next group, the work necessary for the construction of the Mishkan itself, as well as the preparation of dyes for the coverings of the Mishkan and the transfer of parts of the Mishkan during the wanderings of the Jews in the desert.
Jews greet each other by saying the word “shalom.” Translated, it means “perfection.” Therefore, “shalom” is an external manifestation of a person’s best inner quality and state. Perfection here is not associated with physical parameters, but personifies a spiritual state. Therefore, when meeting, Jews say “Shalom!”, thereby wishing each other spiritual perfection. The same word is used when breaking up.
It’s easy to guess why Saturday has such a name – “Shabbat Shalom!” Jews say that "Peaceful Saturday" is a majestic holiday that Israel can be proud of. Shabbat helps the Jewish people realize that there are higher values in life than earthly goods and the thirst for material gain. Shabbat teaches us to live for eternity and holiness. And those who honor the Sabbath will be rewarded according to their deserts. “More than the Jews kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath kept the Jews.”
