Shabbat For Everybody
In recent years in Israel more people are making the Friday night ritual of welcoming Shabbat – Saturday, the day of rest - into their homes and communities. Not in the Temple with a book of Scriptures in their hands, but in a community of friends that sing and light candles as the Friday evening sun sets, often dressed in white.
Up until a few years ago, to welcome the Sabbath and relate spiritually to God with prayer was not common outside of religious circles. Most of us grew up in Israel with a notion that either you’re religious and you welcome the Shabbat or you’re secular and you don’t.
But, things have changed. It seems to me there has been a spiritual revival in Judaism. A reconnection with Hebrew spirituality is gaining strength and many of us have rediscovered Torah, prayer, and Shabbat – not as strict or Orthodox Jews, but as we are.
The people I know what to experience a Shabbat that is personal and touching, not as a cultural or religious event but something that brings them closer to universal Divinity and sacredness.
The Ritual
Shabbat is welcomed on Friday night. Someone has to lead the welcoming of Shabbat. It can alternate between different people, or be the same person every time – it doesn’t matter. What is important is that someone will lead the ceremony and guide it forward.
The leader of the ceremony needs to know how to involve the group in song and prayer, and stay focused so that the ceremony will be focused. They have a clear direction for the ceremony, knowing when to raise the energy and when to bring it down.
Candles are prepared – at least two – so that different people in the community may light them. A blessing is made for the privilege of lighting the Sabbath candles. You can cup the candlelight with your hands as if you are being embraced by the candlelight. My friends and I like to give light from the Sabbath candles to each other, and send candlelight to the entire world, or to loved ones that are far from us.
You don’t have to play an instrument in order to welcome the Sabbath, but singing is a powerful way to express love and togetherness. Today there are many new prayer-songs in Israel that have been created by modern musical artists and bands.
Contemplating the Past Week
Many modern Shabbat ceremonies include some time for light meditation in which we invite ourselves to remember the past week which Shabbat closes. We ask ourselves - What happened this past week? What moved us? What have we learned? How have we changed?
The welcoming of Shabbat reaches its peak when you sing, "Lech dodi, licrat kala." This song was written by Rabbi Elazar Askari, one of the great Rabbis of Tzfat in the 17th century, as a song of invitation to love, "…March out to the loved one, welcome your loving bride, and we should also welcome her…"
The actual day of Shabbat is when we receive the Holy Spirit, and become saturated with the feminine energy. We say that she or he who receives Shabbat is blessed with a new face. After singing we can look at each other and welcome each person’s Sabbath face.
After singing and dancing together and receiving the face of Shabbat, it is wonderful to pass among the people around you, and if appropriate hug in friendship.
Shabbat Blessing
One of the most important 'gates' to the Sabbath is the ceremony of sipping from the full glass of wine. For the blessing of Shabbat before the meal it is recommended to know the traditional prayer; but let it be know that personally, my friends and I have changed some of the wording.
Instead of "Because You have chosen us over all other nations…' some say "Because You have chosen us with all other nations…" to point out that each nation was chosen for a special reason. I tend to say, "Because You have chosen all of us, and You blessed all of us to do Your work…"
Bread and Wine
Two whole loaves of bread - challah - symbolize the abundance of Shabbat. We gather the whole community in a circle around the bread, and as a way to honor women I usually let them bless the bread. It is possible and recommended to expand the traditional blessing of "HaMotzi lechem min haAretz" (the blessing for the bread) and thank the many hands that took part in bringing the bread to the table, from the farmers to the bakers, and to show gratitude for having a community or family to share the bread.
The ancient Jewish custom that was prevalent in Spain in the Middle Ages was to open the blessing with the words: Blessed are you Lord God, King of the world and then add the things we want to be thankful for.
After the blessing, a piece of bread is passed to everyone present. You may want to eat the first bite without speaking, taking a short moment to really feel the taste and texture of the bread.
After the bread, everything that is good to eat in this world is available to us at the Sabbath table, including good wine. And most importantly whilst eating it is good to talk about something important rather than mindless chitchat.