shabbat? questions.

[conniebonnie]

hello jewish and messianic mamas-
my husband and i are looking to try and incorporate more of the traditional jewish sabbath into our week, with some modifications ( we arent jewish) as needed. what im wondering is
what does shabbat look like for you and your family?
what do you really do and not do?
how did you reach those conclusions?
whats your favorite part?
thanks!
we are christ followers, but i am really drawn to the jewish holidays and calendar year, and think there is wisdom and richness in those traditions. we are technically protestant, but i really feel like protestants threw the baby out with the bathwater so to speak when they cut most if not all traditions and rituals out of our faith.

[DashsMama]

The more observant Jewish mamas are all getting ready for or celebrating Shabbat already and probably won't be able to respond to you until Sunday night. I'm not so observant, and am not cooking tonight, so I have a little time to tell you what we do. We are Jewish but dh comes from a non-religious family, and I am a convert, so we are still learning about Shabbat and adding in traditions as we learn about and get comfortable with them. Right now we primarily welcome Shabbat as if it is an honored guest coming for dinner. Our observance is far from kosher, but this is what we do...

We clean the house before Shabbat and make it look as nice as possible before sundown. I cook a big meal and make dishes that would be a little too fancy, pricey or high in calories for a regular week-day meal (usually a roast or whole chicken with multiple side dishes). Sometimes I make my own challah, but lately I've been buying the loaves from a local market. We buy or gather flowers for the table and set the table with a nice tablecloth and good dishes.

At the start of dinner (usually after sunset for us, but traditionally started before sunset) we gather at the table. I light two white candles and as a family we sing the traditional blessing over candles. Then we sing the blessings over wine, and bread, wish each other "Shabbat Shalom" and have dinner. Sometimes we sing songs around the table, sometimes we don't.

After dinner we clear off the table and play a couple board games or cards. Often we will read story books to the kids too. We do turn lights on and off, but don't watch TV, play video games, or use the computer until after Shabbat ends, on Saturday night.

On Saturday we mostly relax around home or enjoy time outside if the weather is cooperating. We won’t do any unpleasant chores around the house, but we will do things that are traditionally considered work if we get pleasure from doing them (like taking a drive, going for a bike ride or gardening). We mainly just enjoy the day and each other’s company.

We do things this way simply because this is what we are able to do at this time. It is not the traditional way of doing things, but it brings us quite a bit of joy and fulfillment nonetheless. What I love the most about keeping Shabbat is how it seems to stretch the weekend out. The weekend honestly feels 3 days long now. I can’t really explain it, but the kids notice it too.


I hope this info is helpful to you. Enjoy your journey and Shabbat Shalom!

[Mommal]

what does shabbat look like for you and your family?

Clean house, special meal. Blessings over candles (Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who made us holy by commanding us to do the good deed of kindling the light of Shabbat), wine or juice (Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who created the fruit of the vine/tree), and bread (Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth).

what do you really do and not do?

Do: have a nice evening. Thank G-d. Appreciate each other. We do use electricity and other modern conveniences, but many people don't.

Not do: work- folding laundry, cleaning the house, balancing the checkbook, stuff like that.

how did you reach those conclusions?

We do what our parents did. It feels natural to us.

whats your favorite part?

The sense of peace and rest. The sense that we must lay down our burdens for a day.