The Jewish religion differs from others in that much of its observances takes place within the home. From what we eat and how we prepare it, to daily, weekly and festival rituals. The integration of Judaism within daily and weekly routines allows Jewish observance to be integrated within everyday life.
The fourth of the Ten Commandments revolves around Shabbat;
"Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work; but the seventh day is a Sabbath unto the Lord your G-d. On it you shall not do any manner of work …For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested on the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath Day, and hallowed it.”
Preparing Shabbat
Preparing Shabbat, for those who are new to it, can prove a daunting task initially. However, as most observant Jewish mothers and grandmothers will tell you, it is all about planning and organization.
Particularly in winter months, when Shabbat comes in early, it can be physically exhausting and mentally demanding to get everything on track. Follow these 10 tips for a stress-free lead up to your well deserved day of rest.
- Invite people over. Having company on Shabbat creates a warm, friendly environment. Consider friends of the kids, someone new in community, friends and neighbors. It is a particular mitzvah (good deed) to invite those who would particularly appreciate a family Shabbat environment; perhaps students who are away from home or someone on their own.
- Shop throughout the week with Shabbat in mind. Consider your guests – do they have any dietary requirements? What about the kids – make sure you get them a favorite treat. When you have decided on a menu, check your recipes for ingredients. Write out a menu for each of the three meals (Friday night, Shabbat lunch and Seudah Shlishit (3rd meal). You can use this as a checklist on Shabbat to make sure you remember everything.
- On Shabbat the house should be gleaming but don’t leave all cleaning till the last minute. You don’t want to sit down on your day of rest and notice cobwebs or dust. The bathrooms, floors, windows and polishing can all be cleaned ahead and just given a final ‘once over’ before Shabbat comes in.
- Get the kids involved. They should be in a routine of cleaning their own rooms for Shabbat – tidying toys away and cleaning up themselves. They can also help you, perhaps sweeping up, peeling potatoes, washing windows; you could give them some pocket money for their efforts. Give them ‘fun’ jobs too, perhaps helping to bake challah, cake or biscuits. It is nice to give them credit for their efforts when the food comes out on the table. Involving the kids not only takes some of the heat off of you, but also instills in them a feeling of teamwork in preparing for Shabbat; all working hard and pulling together to make a restful Shabbat.
- Use the freezer – make some things ahead – puddings, cakes, bread and savory dishes all freeze well. Use free time during the week to take the pressure off your last minute preparations.
- Plan ahead – look up the current parshah (Torah reading) or other topics of interest on the net and print them out to aid discussion at the Shabbat table. Many organizations provide simple, family-orientated material which is excellent for teaching purposes and for provoking discussion. You can also buy books (for children or adults) which contain each weekly parshah and other thoughts on the observance of Shabbat. Why not ask the kids to prepare something to read at the table too. Discussing the weekly parshah over the Shabbat meal is a wonderful, relaxed way to learn more about your religion. As you become more knowledgeable you can discuss things in greater depth. As a starter, familiarization with the contents of the parshah, perhaps linking it to your lives today, is an excellent way to celebrate Shabbat.
- Prepare Shabbat clothing. Wash and iron an outfit befitting of Shabbat. Your whole family should feel that Shabbat is an occasion and wearing your best clothes is part of the experience.
- Make sure you have hot food and are comfortable throughout Shabbat; set the timer on the platter/hot plate/blecht, heating or air conditioning and lights/lamps.
- Prepare the Shabbat table; use a fresh, white cloth and lay the table with your best tableware. Add those special touches eg. fresh flowers, neatly folded napkins, chollah plate and cover, wine goblet, wine glasses etc. Set out the candles ready for candle lighting.
- It might prove useful to have a checklist to follow for all those last minutes jobs; fill the urn and heat up the water, set up the platter/hot plate/blecht, take the light out the fridge, set the timers for lights, air conditioning/heating etc.
Preparing Shabbat can be a challenge but somehow that lead-up throughout the week adds a feeling of momentum. At the moment that you light the Shabbat candles there is a tangible feeling of achievement and of relaxation. Shabbat is here. Enjoy it!
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