GLOBAL SHABBAT

Jewish tradition holds that we should say 100 blessings a day to express thankfulness for the miracles of life. As with all of our JDC Entwine at home resources, we want you to make this experience your own. Below are some of Entwine’s suggested ways to express gratitude for Shabbat.

HOW TO PREPARE

KAVANNAH

INTENTION

How are you preparing for the most meaningful experience possible?

AREVUT

MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITY

Who are you gathering?

ASSIYAH

ACTION

What kind of experience are you crafting?

GATHER

Judaism requires active participation and community to connect to something larger than ourselves. With arevut, or mutural responsibility, we articulate our commitment to being in relationship with others— and for Shabbat, we have the opportunity pause, reflect, and enjoy the company of friends, family and tradition. Encourage everyone to offer a l’chaim to anyone who was critical to their journey, Jewish or otherwise by sharing their name and how they impacted you.

BLESS

Thinking about our own kavannah, intention, is central to everything we do at Entwine, and blessing is a way of heightening our intentionality. Feel free to use the traditional blessings provided or use this as an opportunity to have everyone share something (gratitude, intentionality, etc.). Before you begin the Shabbat rituals, describe what Shabbat looked like during your Entwine experience or any global encounter. Do you remember the flicker of the candle light? The sweet taste of the wine?

Blessing Guide

Jewish tradition holds that we should say 100 blessings a day to express thankfulness for the miracles of life.

As with all of our JDC Entwine at home resources, we want you to make this experience your own. Click through some of Entwine’s suggested ways to express gratitude for Shabbat.

  • BLESSING FOR CANDLE LIGHTING
  • BLESSING FOR THE WINE
  • BLESSING FOR HAND WASHING
  • BLESSING FOR BREAD
  • BLESSING FOR AFTER THE MEAL

BLESSING FOR CANDLE LIGHTING

To welcome Shabbat, we light two candles. Light the candles and say the blessing:

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.

  • Blessed are You, Infinite One, who makes us holy through our actions and honors us with the light of Shabbat.
  • Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who commands us to kindle the light of Shabbat.

BLESSING FOR THE WINE 1 of 2

To make Shabbat holy and sweet, we drink wine. Lift the wine cup and say the blessing. Pass the cup around for everyone to taste, or pour a little from the cup into everyone’s glasses.

Va’yihi erev va’yihi voker yom ha-shishi. Vay’chulu hashamayim v’ha-aretz v’chol tz’va’am. Vay’chal Elohim bayom hash’vi’i milachto asher asa. Vayishbot bayom hash’vi’i mikol milachto asher asa. Vay’varech Elohim et yom hash’vi’i vay’kadesh oto. Kee vo shabbat mi-kol m’lachto asher bara Elohim la’asot.

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, borei p’ri hagafen.

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’ratza vanu, v’shabbat kod’sho b’ahava uv’ratzon hinchilanu, zikaron l’ma’aseh b’reishit. Ki hu yom t’chila l’mikra-ay kodesh, zaycher l’tziat mitzrayim. Ki vanu vacharta v’otanu kidashta mikol ha’amim. V’shabbat kod-shi-cha b’ahava uv’ratzon hinchal tanu. Baruch ata Adonai, mi’kadesh ha Shabbat.

BLESSING FOR THE WINE 2 of 2

There was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. And the heavens and earth and all their components were completed. God completed by the seventh day the work that God had done, and God rested on the seventh day from all of the work that God had done. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, for on it God rested from all of the work that God had created to do.

  • Blessed are You, Infinite One, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, Infinite One, Source of the universe Whose love allows us to become holy.
  • Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe,Creator of the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who made us holy with commandments.

With that same love You made the sanctity of Shabbat our heritage and a reminder of the work of creation. As first among our sacred days, it recalls liberation from Egypt. We seek to be holy to You, to embrace this sacred potential among all people, for out of love You have passed down to us Your holy Shabbat. Blessed are You, God, who sanctifies Shabbat.

BLESSING FOR HAND WASHING

Before eating bread, we wash our hands. Pour water from a jug, three times on the right hand, three times on the left hand. Some have the custom of not speaking after washing and before saying the blessing over the bread.

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al n’tilat yadayim.

  • Blessed are You, Infinite One, who makes us holy through our actions and honors us as we raise up our hands.
  • Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who sanctifies us with commandments and commands us to raise up our hands.

BLESSING FOR BREAD

Challah, in its many forms, is central to celebrating Shabbat. Remove the challah cover and say the blessing.Afterwards, cut or tear the challah, shake salt on it and pass around so your guests can have a piece.

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.

  • Blessed are You, Infinite One, Who brings forth bread from the earth.
  • Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.

BLESSING FOR AFTER THE MEAL

After eating, we offer words of gratitude. Feel free to use these words, the longer traditional version, or your own creative appreciation.

Brich rachamana malkat d-alma ma’rey de hai pita.

  • Blessed are You, Merciful One, Ruler of the universe, Who sustains life with bread.
  • We are blessed with compassion by You, Infinite One, who sustains us with bread.

NOSH

At Entwine, when we talk about assiyah, we think of it as commitment to action. At the Shabbat Table, we are first nourished by food – recipes that call us back to places or help us remember people – and then with the stories, songs, and laughter we each uniquely bring to this moment. The Shabbat table is a bridge between where we have been before and what we can be inspired to do in the future. Use the question cards to guide your table conversation and read the different Shabbat stories from the centerpiece to celebrate our global Jewish community.

PLAY

APPRECIATE

In Jewish tradition, we close our meals with the recitation of birkat hamazon, acknowledging where our food came from and thanking the forces that made our meal possible. If it is your custom we invite you to end the evening with the traditional blessing after the meal or the shortened version we have provided. You may also use this as an opportunity to express gratitude to those who joined and invite your guests to share what they are grateful for.