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Shabbat
07/22/2019 01:44:47 PM
Liz Panken
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In Judaism, there is one holiday that occurs every week and this is Shabbat. It occurs on the seventh day of the week and is modeled after a biblical commandment: “ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of Adonai your God (Exodus 20:9-10). Shabbat is the only holiday mentioned in the Ten Commandments. Following the Jewish calendar, Shabbat begins at sunset Friday evening and continues through sunset on Saturday. Shabbat is reflective of our weekly cycle of work and rest. Rest does not mean sleeping, it implies taking oneself out of the ordinary routine, enabling us to restore our spirit and soul. Many Jewish calendars indicate the start time (to light candles) and the ending time.
So, why Shabbat? It occurs only when we make it happen!!
Some prepare special foods (Challah), eat special meals, light candles and chant special prayers such as the Kiddush. Some say how you set your table and prepare your meal should befit a visit by a queen. Shabbat is metaphorically seen as a queen. These activities and customs set Shabbat apart from being just another day.
Traditionally, Jews greet each other with special greetings on the Sabbath. Some say ‘Shabbat Shalom”, which translates to Shabbat peace, expressing the hope that you will have a peaceful Shabbat. I grew up with “Gut Shabbos” which is Yiddish for “Have a good Sabbath”. This is common among people of Ashkenazi descent.
When you light candles, this action ushers in Shabbat. Jewish customs requires a minimum of 2 candles because the fourth of the Ten Commandments occurs in two separate sections of Torah ( Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Exodus 20:8-11 and Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Deuteronomy 5:12-15). You may use more than 2 candles. Traditionally, they are white, but color may be used. The candles should burn for a substantial length of time. Jewish tradition has the woman of the household light the Shabbat candles. But, since the lighting is a requirement of Shabbat observance, it is not tied to gender. So… men can light also.
There are many other customs to explore to enhance your Shabbat experience. Some of these customs are: reciting the Kiddush (we do this at Temple on Fridays and Saturdays with the B’nai Mitzvahs), Donating Tzedakah which places the obligation on all of us to right the injustices of society by donating to groups in need, having challah at your dinner table and reciting the prayer (Motzi), Blessing our children on Shabbat ( based on the biblical story of Joseph and his sons), and practicing the ceremony of Havdalah (Marking the conclusion of Shabbat).
Celebrating Shabbat with our community in the sanctuary at Temple Israel reaffirms our ties to God and to each other. The service schedule is noted online at the temple website. The style of worship varies. Some services open the Torah, others are Multigenerational for those families with younger children and the need to worship earlier. Some services have a guest speaker, while others include a community Shabbat dinner. There are multiple choices for all in our community to engage.
Many families choose to “unplug” and stop all electronic devices, spend time together doing an activity such as enjoying nature, leisurely walks, hiking, reading together and resting. Maybe fitting in a nap! Explore for your family. I encourage all to go to Reform Judaisim.org and learn about the various customs of Shabbat.
B’Shalom,
Liz Panken
Ritual Committee Member
Mon, August 8 2022
11 Av 5782
TINW Happenings
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Tuesday ,
AugAugust 9 , 2022Current Events
Tuesday, Aug 9th 10:30am to 12:00pm
Join us for an interesting, interactive discussion of important topics of the day led by Shari Baum of Westchester Jewish Community Services. The session will be in person at the Temple and via zoom. -
Tuesday ,
AugAugust 9 , 2022Community Service through Flowers
Tuesday, Aug 9th 12:00pm to 1:00pm
TINW is delighted to announce that we will hold our third event for the Community Service Through Flowers project. We are excited that we will be collaborating with Our Savior Lutheran Church for this event. The Forever Yours Florist in Peekskill is teaming up with us to help us create beautiful flower arrangements that will be delivered to residents of a local nursing home. All you will need to bring is a: vase (the size of a Mason or pickle jar) pair of scissors shoe box to help transport completed floral arrangement Your willingness to help others is what we need to make this event a big success. We will provide the flowers, an instructor, and all that you will need to create a personalized card to your recipient. Please register below by August 3. If you have any questions, contact Yana Fomin at yana@tinw.org. We look forward to working with you to put a smile on somebody's face, and let them know we care about them! -
Tuesday ,
AugAugust 9 , 2022Chess Club
Tuesday, Aug 9th 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Come one come all to TINW's Chess Club! This is a great opportunity for folks of all ages and chess levels to play and learn this game of strategy. -
Friday ,
AugAugust 12 , 2022Shabbat Shabbang!
Friday, Aug 12th 5:00pm to 6:00pm
We've been having so much fun with our families with young children at our Shabbat Shabbang! programs this summer! Please join Cantor Lauren Fogelman and Rabbi Wendy Pein for our August session. We will be singing songs, listening to live music, doing crafts, eating challah, and enjoying a pizza dinner and yummy treats! We welcome families with children 7 and under (and their older siblings). Bring a friend to share in our Shabbat!
Events
Friday Night
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: 7:00pm |
Candle Lighting : 7:41pm |
Shabbat Day
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This week's Torah portion is Parashat Va-et'chanan
Shabbat, Aug 13 |
Candle Lighting
Friday, Aug 12, 7:41pm |
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Friday, Aug 12 |