All - in honor of the Sabbath

All - in honor of the Sabbath

The dining table will cover a white cloth, polished to a shine candle put in the middle of the table, put two fragrant loaves on the tray and will lay their towel, add a bottle of wine or grape juice, and, of course, do not forget the glass Kiddush.

In a sign that we are taking on a visit Queen Saturday - at the Shabbat table put the best dishes, which only is in the house.

"Shalom Aleichem" ( "Peace be with you")

The Talmud relates that two angels accompany a man on the eve of the Sabbath from the synagogue to his home. After the evening prayer, we gather around the Sabbath table and singing "Shalom Aleichem", welcoming the angels and saying goodbye to them.

"Eshet Hail" ( "Capable Wife")

After the "Shalom Aleichem" sing "Eshet Hail". This hymn wrote King Solomon (Solomon), he praises the hostess - righteous Jewish woman.

Kiddush (sanctification)

Almighty declared the Sabbath a holy day, so beginning the meal, we dedicate it, saying Kiddush over a glass of wine.

During Kiddush all cost. The head of the family fills a glass of wine to the brim, and adds a few drops to a little wine overrun. Filled glass, he puts down on the palm of his right hand fingers cover it from all sides and says kiddush.

Then head of the family sits down and drinks at least half of the glass. Leftover wine he pours a glass - the number of participants, each tasted the consecrated wine and joined the Kiddush.

washing hands

Immediately after the Kiddush - meal, which necessarily begins with bread. Before we eat bread, we wash our hands.

To do this, go to the kitchen or to the nearest sink and fill a large cup or glass of water. Mug taken in the left hand and three times watered right hand, then filled the cup again and just three times watered his left hand, holding the mug in his right. Then recite the blessing:

"Blessed are You, L-rd our Gd, ruler of the world, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us (to do) the washing of hands."

Challah

Washing hands, all return to the table. Once everyone was seated, the head of the house raises two challah (they symbolize the double portion of manna (manna), which the children of Israel received in the desert on Friday in honor of Shabbat) and blesses:

"Blessed are You, L-rd our Gd, ruler of the world, to grow up bread from the earth."

Head of the family cuts the challah, slice dips in salt and eaten, and then dipped in salt remaining pieces of challah and distributes them to all present.

Two challah in honor of Shabbat

At Saturday's table covered with beautiful cloth lay on a tray two scented challah. Why we are commanded to bless the Sabbath just two challah?

The Torah gives us the double commandment to respect the Sabbath and the uses for it are different words - in the same place it is written, "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy," and the second: "Keep the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." Therefore, one challah we put on the table to remember the Sabbath, and the second - to keep it.

Another reason is designed to teach us the importance of faith and trust in the Almighty:

In the desert, received Mann (manna) without any effort and labor, the Children of Israel - "the bread of heaven." Each person received a daily single dose, and on Friday received a double portion of all - even on Shabbat. When Shabbat we cut the bread and remember the manna, we learn that the bread that we eat today and that got us through hard work - "sweat of the brow", in fact - too "heavenly bread" that was granted to us by God. Revenues person approved by the heavens and bestowed from above, and they depend only on the Almighty's blessing, just like Mann, drop down to the Jewish people in the desert every day.

The best food

Meet on Saturday the best food - the commandment! Of course, Shabbat meals should be festive.

Traditional evening meal menu includes:

the first dish - fish (according to tradition, is "gefilte fish" - stuffed fish or fish cakes) and snacks;

soup (possibly traditional Jewish chicken soup with noodles, crackers or dumplings);

main dish - the meat with a side dish.

The main thing - food should be everyone's favorite, so, from whom the whole family enjoys - a delicious, festive, giving the feeling that you're sitting at the king's table.

The atmosphere of holiness

Shabbat meals - a good reason to invite to visit friends and relatives, to sit together and talk. Good while singing a special Shabbat tunes and talk about the Torah, to make the feast atmosphere of holiness and special Jewish spirituality.

"Birkat Amazon" (Grace After Meals)

At the end of each meal, which they ate the bread, says the blessing after the meal - "Birkat Amazon." In Shabbat we add to it a passage talking about the features of the day, giving us a taste of "taste" the world to come. Every week we counted worthy of "taste", it prepares us for the time when all of the days will be on Saturday, there will be a "perpetual Sabbath" after the arrival of the Messiah.

Prayers Sabbath

The Sabbath in the synagogue reigns a special, festive atmosphere. Men come to prayer with prayer shawls draped over his shoulders, praying the morning prayer (shacharit) on Saturday with special inserts and read in the Torah Parsha.

day meal

The smell of cholent (hot), which was prepared through the night on a low heat and just arrived, greets returning from synagogue. Head of the family again sanctifies Shabbat Kiddush over a glass of wine, everybody makes washing hands, pronounced the blessing, cut the challah, dip bread slices in salt and enjoy your meal.

By tradition, on Saturday afternoon also served two dishes - fish and snack and then a delicious and hot cholent.

Like last night, the whole family sings songs Saturday, in the words of the Torah; Of course, we must not forget to thank the Most High in the blessing after the meal ( "Birkat Amazon").

Holiday

We are commanded to rest on the Sabbath and refrain from work. Afternoon we can use for relaxing or reading, or even better to devote this time to study Torah.

Three stars

How do we know that Shabbat is over? Of course, we can see by the calendar time of the end of the Sabbath, but verify this independently we can see in the sky three stars. Now we can perform the ceremony "Awdal" - separating the Sabbath from everyday life.

We separate the sacred from the mundane

With the departure of Shabbat we celebrate the passage from the holy Sabbath to weekdays and with the help of the ceremony "Awdal".

Fill a glass of wine or grape juice (you can do Havdala as the "beverage, popular in the country" - soda, tea and so on), we light a special candle with several wicks (you can just put together two ordinary candles or matches so that their flame It merged into one) preparing perfume (any plant or seasoning with a pleasant odor and strong) and utter Havdala. During the ceremony, made to smell the incense, looking at the fire, bring to the fire arms and looking at the reflection of the fire on the nails.

In the end commits Havdala drinking wine and extinguish the candle residue. Women committed Havdala, be sure to use "a drink popular in the country," but not wine or grape juice.

That's all. We wish each other a good and blessed week.