Celebration of Shabbat (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Religious Studies): Revision Note

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:

• 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

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

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