Celebration of Shabbat (Cambridge International IGCSE Religious Studies)

Synagogue services for Shabbat

What is Shabbat?

• Shabbat is a **day of rest **for Jews

• It originates from the creation story, as told in Genesis, which says that** G-d** rested on the seventh day after creating the world

  • This idea is also repeated in the book of Exodus:

blockquote “It is a sign forever that in a six day period, G-d made heaven and Earth, and on the seventh day, he rested” (Exodus 31:17)

• The day also connects Jews to their ancestors, who were enslaved

  • Not working on Shabbat is a sign of freedom for Jews

• During Shabbat, Jews are expected to rest and spend time with their family

  • They are forbidden by Jewish law from taking part in several categories of work:

    • These include creating or extinguishing fire, writing and repairing things

  • Many Jews will also avoid all other kinds of work

What synagogue services are there for Shabbat?

• During Shabbat, three main services take place in the synagogue, which most Jews attend

  • On Friday evening, Shabbat is welcomed with special prayers, **hymns **and psalms

  • On Saturday morning,**** there are readings from the Torah and the Nevi’im

    • This is considered to be the main service of the week
    • This service is called Shacharit Shabbat
    • These services vary between synagogues but share a similar overall structure

  • On Saturday evening, there are more prayers and readings from the Torah

    • The Havdalah ceremony marks the end of Shabbat

Friday evening meal preparation

What happens during the Friday evening meal preparation?

• On Friday evening, the focus of Shabbat is a meal that brings the **family **together

• All of the food for the** Friday night meal**(and usually Saturday meals) is prepared in advance, as cooking is not allowed during Shabbat

  • A festive table is set with a white tablecloth, candles, wine or grape juice and challah covered with a decorative cloth
  • The day of rest is welcomed with the lighting of the two candles
  • Traditionally, the mother of the family places her hands over her eyes and recites a blessing
  • Before the food, more blessings are said for the children, and kiddush is said over the wine to make the evening holy
  • Drinking wine shows that it is a joyful, celebratory time
  • The challah is blessed, and everyone takes a piece

Shabbat in the home

The Havdalah ceremony

What happens during the Havdalah ceremony?

• Havdalah(meaning separation) marks the end of Shabbat and the start of the new week

• It’s a brief, symbolic ritual held after nightfall on Saturday

• The Havdalah cup of wine is filled to overflowing as an expression of hope, and blessings are said:

  • Over wine — blessing for the fruit of the vine
  • Over spices — smelled to comfort the soul
  • Over the candle — thanking G-d for the **light **of fire

• The** Havdalah blessing** is also said, praising G-d for distinguishing between **holy **and everyday

• A braided candle with a double wick is used for the ceremony,**** and a spice box is taken into each room of the house

  • The hope is that the week to come will be as **sweet **as the smell from the spice box

• The meal usually lasts for a** few hours**, with everyone enjoying family time, often singing songs and telling religious stories

• There are certain rituals that mark the end of the ceremony:

  • The candle is extinguished in the wine
  • Some Jews dip their fingers in the wine for symbolic blessing
  • Traditional songs, like Eliyahu HaNavi, are sung

Worked Example Give two artefacts used during Shabbat, and outline how they are used

[4 marks]

Final answer: Answer:

The Havdalah cup of wine is filled to overflowing as an expression of hope, and blessings are said [2]

During the Havdalah ceremony, a spice box is taken into each room of the house. The hope is that the week to come will be as sweet as the smell from the spice box [2]

Exam Hint Here is a summary of the main elements of Shabbat:

Meaning of Shabbat

• A day of rest, commanded in the Ten Commandments
• Celebrates G-d’s creation and liberation from slavery in Egypt

Shabbat Preparation

• Begins Friday before sunset
• Involves cleaning, cooking, setting the table and lighting candles

Shabbat Observance

• Candle lighting: welcoming Shabbat
• Kiddush: blessing over the wine
• Challah: special braided bread with a blessing
• Synagogue services: Friday night and Saturday morning
• No work (Melachot): 39 categories of prohibited activities

Havdalah

• The ceremony marking the end of Shabbat

Learn about all of these elements and also the symbolic meaning of certain practices