By By Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss
And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy—having ceased on it from all the work of creation that God had done. (Genesis 2:3)
Many of us are living in a state of perpetual activity, constant stress, and extensive to-do lists. We find it nearly impossible to turn off the switch in our heads, even as we fall asleep at night in a state of exhaustion. We measure the success (or failure) of a day by how much we accomplished (or did not accomplish). We bring our laptops along with us on vacation, even if we promise ourselves not to work unless it’s an absolute necessity (and somehow there always seems to be a necessity!)
Even when we are not working, our loved ones vie with technology (cell phones, iPads, television, social media, etc.) for our attention. As a result, our most treasured relationships suffer. Our physical and mental health deteriorates. Our ability to really enjoy life is compromised, because even when we have some downtime, we are thinking ahead to what still needs doing rather than focusing on the present precious moments with which we are blessed.
Enter Shabbat: “And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy.”
From the moment we welcome Shabbat on Friday evening by lighting the candles, we are transported into sacred time. By detaching ourselves from the ordinary and mundane that we face during the rest of the week, on Shabbat we are offered an opportunity to experience the extraordinary.
Blessed are You Lord our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with God’s commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candles.
Blessings over wine and challah follow this candle blessing. Parents may take these moments to place their hands on their children’s heads and bless them with their own heartfelt words or with traditional Jewish blessings:
(For Boys:) May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe
(For Girls:) May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah
(For all:) May God bless you and keep you.
May God shine light on you and be gracious to you.
May God turn toward you and grant you peace.
Shabbat is an ideal day for taking walks in nature, enjoying meals with friends, reading books, playing with our pets, and engaging in meaningful conversation with family. Those who find comfort in being in community may wish to attend temple services on Friday night or Shabbat morning or perhaps attend a Torah study session. Forget about doing laundry or other household chores. Even God took a break from the work week!
Just as Shabbat enters by candle-lighting, so it exits with a braided candle during the Havdalah ceremony. We offer blessings over wine, spices, and fire, as well as the separation between the holy and the mundane. And so, we bid farewell to Shabbat and re-enter our ordinary lives. Hopefully by Saturday evening, we have recharged our emotional, mental and physical batteries and now have renewed energy to bring to our work, our communities, and our world.
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