25 Shabbat Facts Every Jew Should Know
By Menachem Posner 1. Shabbat Lasts From Sundown on
Friday to Nightfall on Saturday
Every week, for the 25 hours beginning just
before sundown on Friday until after night has fallen on Saturday night, Jewish
people celebrate Shabbat, a period of rest and spiritual rejuvenation.
Read: What Is Shabbat?
2. The Day Before Is Special Too
“He who toils on the eve of Shabbat,” say the
sages, “will eat on Shabbat.” Shabbat is treated as an honored guest, and
Friday (or even Thursday night) in a Jewish home is dedicated to preparing for
her arrival. For this reason, in addition to calling it yom shishi (“the sixth day”), Jews refer to Friday as erev Shabbat, the “eve of Sabbath.”
Read: Preparing for Shabbat
3. Women Light Shabbat Candles
Jewish women and girls (or men, when
there are no women present) light Shabbat candles 18 minutes before sunset on
Friday afternoon and on the eve of Jewish holidays, often in the dining room
where the festive holiday meal will soon take place. Single girls and women light
one candle, and married women light (at least) two candles.
Read: 15 Shabbat Candle Facts Every Jewish Woman
(and Man) Should Know
4. Shabbat Is Super Important in
Judaism
Shabbat is the fourth of the 10 Commandments
and repeated over and over again in the Torah, making it one of the most
important elements of Judaism. In fact, Shabbat is so
central to Jewish life that in common parlance the term shomer Shabbat (Shabbat observer) is synonymous with “religious
Jew.”
Read:
The Miracle of Early
Shabbat
5. It Can Be Called Shabbat or
Shabbos
The Hebrew term Shabbat was Anglicized as
Sabbath. The traditional Ashkenazi pronunciation is SHAH-bus. Sephardim (and
Modern Hebrew speakers), on the other hand, call it shah-BAHT.
Read: The Great “Shabbat vs. Shabbos” Debate
6. There Are Several Shabbat
Greetings
The
Hebrew salutation, used by Sephardim of Eastern descent and those who favor
modern Hebrew, is “Shabbat shalom,”
which means “Sabbath [of] peace.”
The
traditional Yiddish greeting of Ashkenazi Jews is “Gut Shabbos,” which means “Good Sabbath.” This greeting is used in
place of both “hello” and “goodbye.” When used in parting, however, it is
modified slightly to “Ah gutten Shabbos.”
If
you cannot remember the Yiddish nuances, just say “Good Shabbos” every time,
and you’ll be in very good company.
Read:
How to Greet others on
Shabbat
7. Torah Gives Us Two Reasons for
Shabbat
The 10 Commandments are listed twice in the
Torah, first in Exodus and again in Deuteronomy. In the Exodus version, we are
told to keep Shabbat “for [in] six days the L‑rd made the heaven and the earth, the sea and all
that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day.” In
Deuteronomy, we are told to commemorate that “you were a slave in the land of
Egypt, and that the L‑rd your G‑d took you out from there with a strong hand
and with an outstretched arm.”
Read: Why Two Versions of the
10 Commandments?
8. The Revelation at Sinai
Happened on Shabbat
The most significant point in Jewish history
was the Revelation at Sinai, when G‑d communicated the 10 Commandments and
struck a covenant with the Jewish people after He took them out of Egypt. This
magnificent moment, according to the sages of the Talmud, took place on
Shabbat.
Read: What Happened at Sinai?
9. 39 Types of Action Are
Forbidden on Shabbat
While “work” is generally defined as
activities that generate funds or require significant energy, the work we avoid
on Shabbat is defined somewhat more broadly. The sages of the Talmud enumerate 39 forbidden creative
acts, each of which is a “father” with many “offsprings” that are also forbidden
due to their intrinsic similarity to the parent act. For example, the melachah of kindling/cooking contains
driving (which is powered by combustion), turning on and off lights, and
operating electrical appliances.
Read: The 39 Melachot
10. Tractate Shabbat Has a
Whopping 24 Chapters
The complex application of the 39 melachot and their permutations is
addressed in the Talmud, the central text of Rabbinic Judaism. Tractate Shabbat
is one of the largest in the Talmud, with 24 chapters, second only to Tractate
Kelim, which has 30.
Read: What Is the Talmud?
11. We Eat 3 meals on Shabbat
“And you shall declare the Shabbat a delight,”
says the prophet Isaiah. Indeed, feasting is a big part of Shabbat observance.
We eat (at least) three meals on Shabbat: one on Friday night, one the next day, and a smaller one
in the late afternoon.
Read:
What to Expect at
Shabbat Dinner?
12. Angels Accompany Us on Friday
Night
Tradition tells us that two angels accompany
us on our way to the Friday night meal. This gave birth to the classic Shabbat
song Shalom Aleichem, in which we welcome the angels to our home, ask them to bless us,
and then send them on their way. This is often followed by Eishet Chayil, Solomon’s famous ode to the
Woman of Valor.
Read: Why We Sing Shalom Aleichem
13. Kiddush: We Verbally Toast
Shabbat Over Wine
The
Torah commands us to “remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it.” The sages
understand this to mean that we must verbally declare Shabbat a holy day, so on
Friday night, before we sit down to dinner, we say a prayer over wine in a
ritual known as kiddush (sanctification). (A truncated kiddush is recited again the following day).
Read: What Is Kiddush?
14. We Start Each Meal With Two
Loaves of Challah
We begin each Shabbat meal by reciting the hamotzi blessing
over two loaves of bread. It is traditional to use braided loaves known as challah. After the bread is sliced, it
is dipped in salt and distributed to all present.
Read: Why Two Loaves of Challah on Shabbat?
15. It Is Customary to Eat Fish
The first course of a Shabbat dinner is often
fish, prepared in a variety of ways reflecting the diverse cultures where the
Jewish people have lived throughout our long history. Morrocan Jews make
delicious fish tagine, while an Ashkenazi staple is gefilte fish,
made of ground fish and minced vegetables. A contemporary Shabbat favorite is
sushi salad, made with kosher surimi, rice, and bits of vegetable.
Read: Why Eat Fish on Friday Night?
16. Hot Favorites Are Chicken
Soup and Cholent
While it is forbidden to cook on Shabbat, it
is permitted, under certain circumstances, to allow food to remain on an
existing flame over Shabbat. Thus, it is customary to enjoy chicken soup
(with matzah
balls) on Friday nights. The following day, many Ashkenazim enjoy cholent, a melange of meat, beans, barley,
and potatoes that has been stewing since Friday. The Sephardic equivalent is
known as dafina or hameen.
Watch: Why We Eat Hot Food on Shabbat
17. Shabbat Is Greeted Like a
Queen or Bride
On Friday night, as the sun sets, it is
customary to sing a collection of Psalms followed by the mystical poem of Lecha
Dodi, in which we serenade the descending sweetness of Shabbat, whom we address
as both a beautiful bride and beloved queen.
This
concept goes all the way back to the Talmud, where we read that Rabbi Chanina
would wrap himself in festive garments on Shabbat eve and say, “Come, and we
will go out to greet Shabbat the queen.” Another sage, Rabbi Yannai, would don
his festive garment on Shabbat eve and say, “Enter, O bride. Enter, O bride.”
Read: Four Reasons We Call Shabbat a Bride and
Queen
18. Shabbat Morning Services Are
the Longest of the Week
Jewish people worship in the synagogue every
morning, afternoon, and evening. Of course, this includes Shabbat. Since
Shabbat is a day of rest and spiritual connection, it is only natural that
Shabbat services are somewhat longer with more singing and extra additions.
Read: What to Expect at Shabbat Morning Services
19. Parshah: Another Portion of
the Torah Is Read Every Shabbat
A highlight of the Shabbat morning service is
when the Torah scroll is removed from the Holy Ark and read aloud. The Torah is
divided into 53 parts (sometimes calculated as 54). Every week, we read another
portion, called a parshah, completing
the entire scroll annually on Simchat Torah. Every parshah has a name (taken from one of its first words), and that
name is given to the entire week leading up to the Shabbat on which that
portion is read, during which the parshah’s
text, themes, and lessons are studied.
Study: This Week’s Parshah
20. Shabbat Morning Reception Is
Called ‘Kiddush’
Shabbat morning services are often (but not
always) followed by a communal lunch, which can range from some simple crackers
and dips to an elaborate sit-down feast. Known as a kiddush, this is the time to schmooze (chat) with your fellow congregants
and enjoy some unhurried Shabbat socializing.
21. We Sleep Extra on Shabbat
The word Shabbat (שבת) is said to be an acronym for shinah beshabbat
taanug, “sleep on Shabbat [is a]
pleasure.” Favorite Shabbat pastimes include Torah study, napping, and
strolling. Relaxing
quality-time with family and friends is also a unique Shabbat delight.
Read: Why Do We Sleep?
22. We Don’t Carry Outside an
‘Eruv’ on Shabbat
On
Shabbat, one of the 39 forbidden activities is to carry any item a distance of four cubits (approximately
six feet) or more within a public domain. This also includes transporting
things from a private domain into a public one, or vice versa. In this context,
“private” and “public” have little to do with who holds the deed and everything
to do with the physical properties and function of the area.
Certain
areas with small populations can be made into private domains by constructing a
barrier known as an eruv. Today, many Jewish neighborhoods are enclosed by an eruv, enabling people to push strollers,
carry books to synagogue, or carry their keys when they go on a Shabbat stroll.
Read: Why Do Jews Carry in
an Eruv on Shabbat?
23. Shabbat Is Escorted Out With
Chanting, Wine, Spices & Flames
Just like we welcome Shabbat with kiddush over wine, we say a similar
text, known as havdalah, after
Shabbat ends. This short but beautiful ceremony incorporates sniffing fragrant
spices (to restore our spirits, which have been dampened by the departure
Shabbat) and benefitting from fire (to celebrate that fire may once again be
used).
Read: How to Make Havdalah
24. Saturday Night Is Special,
Too!
The evening following Shabbat is known as motzaei Shabbat, “the departure of
Shabbat,” during which we still enjoy the afterglow of the day. It is customary
to enjoy yet another feast this evening, called a melaveh malka (“escorting the queen”). It is common to tell stories of
righteous people.
Read: The Melaveh Malkah
25. Shabbat Is a Prelude to the
Era of Moshiach
Shabbat, a day of rest and spiritual bliss, is
a prelude to the pleasure we will experience in the era of Moshiach, when peace
and plenty will prevail, and G‑d’s presence will be clear for all to see. It is
no surprise, therefore, that we are told that the reward for keeping Shabbat is
the arrival of Moshiach. May it happen in our days. Amen!
Read: What Will Happen When Moshiach Comes? |