A Guide to Shabbat

 Yom Kippur has concluded and many Jewish people are breathing a sigh of relief. Just as I could not run a marathon, many Jewish people feel they cannot comfortably attend Shul services. Thankfully, and appreciatively, many of our people do attend the Yamim Noraim (Days of Awe) and hopefully derive a sense of meaning and significance from this group worship.

     Even as we catch our breath, we can still remember that a primary Jewish practice, lighting candles on Shabbas, is not linked to Shul attendance and is easily performed in our own homes. Simply place 2 candles in candlesticks, light them, cover your eyes and say a blessing.

      Ordinary Friday comes every single week and has lost its uniqueness. Many of us have forgotten the significance of pausing for a moment, lighting two candles and welcoming Shabbat into our homes.

       Try carving a few minutes of meaningful time out of a hectic schedule. Kindle Shabbat candles. See these candles as spiritual bookends testifying to the importance of belief and action, love and faith, Tzedakah of time and money, remembering Shabbat and observing Shabbat; the list goes on. Make this fire your own by lighting candles, saying 14 ancient Hebrew words and remembering that nobody else in the world performs this act. Only we do so. Therefore, we are unique and the light which we bring into the world is unique. Here is the Blessing for Shabbat Candles

     We can also sanctify time and remember our sacred purpose – to free those enslaved and to testify to the sacred nature of freedom. Kiddush declares the holiness of time itself. Since it is so important we adorn Kiddush by offering a toast to God with wine (but wine itself is not Kiddush).If you feel rusty chanting Kiddush, drop by shul any Thursday between 11:00 and Noon for a 5 minute refresher of Kiddush to listen to a beautiful rendition on CD (not my voice) and work on the Hebrew with me. Or check out Kiddush and the other blessings on our website. Or drop by shul at 6:45 p.m. on Fridays for a refresher. Or ask me to come to your home or office and I will coach you a bit on making Kiddush.

So many options- will you join me in bringing a sense of Shabbat holiness into your home?

     I look forward to rekindling Shabbat with you on your own terms.

     May the upcoming Shabbats in the year 5776 be a day wherein we bless God for creating fire and sanctifying us to be the keepers of the flame of Holiness and Justice.

Shalom, Rabbi Steve Silberman