๐ฏ๏ธ Shabbat ืฉึทืืึธึผืช
every week, from Friday sundown to Saturday night Ages 4โ11
Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest. Every week, from Friday evening to Saturday night, families slow down, light candles, share meals and spend time together.
๐ฌ Say: Shabbat Shalom! โ Have a peaceful Shabbat!
๐ The story
The Torah tells that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. Shabbat is a weekly gift of rest โ a break from work and screens, and time for family, friends, prayer and play.
Shabbat begins on Friday before sunset, when candles are lit and a blessing is said. At dinner, families say Kiddush over wine or grape juice and eat two loaves of braided challah, often with a blessing for the children.
On Saturday many families go to synagogue, take walks, read and play games. Shabbat ends after dark on Saturday night with Havdalah โ a braided candle, sweet-smelling spices and a cup of wine or juice โ to say goodbye until next week.
โจ How we celebrate
- Lighting Shabbat candles
- Kiddush and challah
- A special family dinner
- Resting from work
- Havdalah on Saturday night
๐ค Hebrew words to learn
| candle | ื ึตืจ |
| peace | ืฉึธืืืึนื |
| rest | ืึฐื ืึผืึธื |
| challah | ืึทืึธึผื |
๐ A blessing: Lighting Shabbat candles
ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืึทืชึธึผื ืืณ ืึฑืึนืึตืื ืึผ ืึถืึถืึฐ ืึธืขืึนืึธื, ืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืงึดืึฐึผืฉึธืื ืึผ ืึฐึผืึดืฆึฐืึนืชึธืื ืึฐืฆึดืึธึผื ืึผ ืึฐืึทืึฐืึดืืง ื ึตืจ ืฉึถืื ืฉึทืืึธึผืช.
Say it: Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetsivanu lehadlik ner shel Shabbat.
It means: Blessed are You, Lord our God, ruler of the universe, who made us holy through Your commandments and commanded us to light a Shabbat lamp.
Candles are lit before sunset. Exact times and the order of blessing and lighting follow local practice.
โ๏ธ Crafts & activities
Challah Cover
You need: A white napkin or fabric square, Fabric markers
- Write "Shabbat Shalom" in the middle.
- Draw candles, challah and a cup around it.
- Use it to cover the challah at your Friday dinner.
Shabbat quiz
When does Shabbat begin?
What bread is eaten on Shabbat?
What ceremony ends Shabbat?
What do people wish each other on Shabbat?
๐ญ Letโs talk
If you had one day a week with no screens, how would you spend it?
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