Article below by Dr. Bill Duerfeldt
Shamar Shabbat – Keeping the Sabbath
In Deuteronomy 5:12 we read -- “Keep (or observe) the Sabbath day
to keep it holy…” In Hebrew this sentence reads --
Shamar et yomha-Shabbat
l'kad'sho.I want to direct your attention to the first word of Deuteronomy’s
passage above. The word is
is often translated “keep” as in the example above. However,
“
picture of a watchman in a watchtower guarding a field, or guarding a
fortress or city. Why is this distinction important?
Let me share just two brief points, as to why
to the Sabbath.
First, it is the one day which God devoted to
Life! It is to be a day of renewal and refreshing. Remember that the
weekly day of rest had no parallel in any other ancient civilization.
In ancient times, leisure was for the wealthy and the ruling classes only,
never for the serving or laboring classes. The very idea of rest each
week was unimaginable. The Greeks and the Romans thought Jews
were lazy because they insisted on having a "holiday" every seventh
day
seven and He created the Sabbath.
Jesus said it this way – “
The second point is one I’ve mentioned before – the Hebraic concept
of the “sanctity of time”. The Sabbath may have been the last thing
created, but it was the first thing that God sanctified and called “holy”.
In the Ten Commandments, there is only one thing that God calls
שמר . Pronounced “sha’mar”, the wordshamar” could more appropriately be translated as “guard”. It is the“guarding” is so aproposלחים (“L’Chaim” ) – to. But God knew man must rest from his toil at least one day inShabbat was made for man; not man for Shabbat.” (Mark 2:27).קדוש
I have heard it said by theologians that “mankind was God’s purpose of creation”. Mankind may have been the “purpose”, but Shabbat was the climax! To theShabbat is a Palace of Holiness in Time. God’s “Mo’edim” (His
) are very important to Him. (One cannot read
: A red table wine (such as Manishewetz or Mogan David)
Any type of shawl, to be placed over the head
Two tapered candles in matching candlesticks isShabbat.Shabbat” in Hebrew is on the cover – but this is also optional.
Shamar Shabbat) – to guard the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Appointed Times
Leviticus 23 without that truth coming through loud and clear.)
Shabbat
important even than Yom Kippur – the Day of Atonement. To those
who observe
joy eagerly awaited throughout the week, a time when one can set
aside all of one’s weekday concerns and devote one’s self to higher
pursuits.
In Jewish literature, poetry and music,
bride or queen. In fact, there is a popular Hebrew
that says
beloved to meet the [Sabbath] bride.” And what husband does not
want to protect and “guard” his bride? What monarch does not want
to “guard” his palace? Likewise, God admonishes us to
is the most important ritual observance in Judaism; moreShabbat, it is a precious gift from God, a day of greatShabbat is also described as aShabbat hymnLecha Dodi Likrat Kallah which translates, “Come myשמר שבת(
The Bread
“challah”, you can easily make your own using Pillsbury refrigerated
bread dough. Challah is braided bread and typically looks like this:
Here in Israel you can get “challah” made with a wide variety of
ingredients – white flour, whole wheat, oats, rye, etc and similarly with
a variety of coatings – egg wash, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and
so forth. This link will tell you more...
. If your community does not have a bakery which makeshttp://www.jewishrecipes.org/jewish-foods/challah.html
The challah is traditionally covered, when sitting on the table before
the blessing, with a special “challah cover” – often with the word
“
The Wine
or other kosher wine is preferred, but at home we often will use a
berry wine such as Blackberry Merlot. Grape juice, of course, can be
used as well.
The Candles:
traditional, although any two candles will do. In Israel many folks buy
the small flat throw-away “votive-type” candles in their own individual
aluminum holders and use those for
The woman's shawl:
during the candle-lighting ceremony, is fine.
The Ceremony
When all are gathered at the table, the mother or oldest woman
covers her head with the shawl and proceeds to light the candles.
She then stretches her arms around the candles and brings her
hands back toward her face, as if she is gathering the light toward
herself. She does this three times.
Finally, she brings both hands up to her face, covers her eyes
and says the following blessing:
“Blessed are You, O LORD our God, King of the Universe,
who has sanctified us with Your commandments,
and instructed us to kindle the candles of Shabbat.
In Hebrew the blessing is...
“Baruk atah ADONAI Elohaynu, Melek HaOlam,
asher kidi'shay'nu be'mitz'vetov vitzi'vaynu
le'hawd-lick nair shel shabbat.”
Everyone at the table responds with “
“Blessed are You, O LORD our God, King
In Hebrew the prayer is:
“Baruk atah ADONAI Elohaynu, Melek HaOlam,
ha motzi le'chem min ha'eretz.”
Everyone at the table responds with “
“Blessed are You, O LORD our God, King of the
Amen”.
In Hebrew the prayer is:
“Baruk atah ADONAI Elohaynu, Melek HaOlam,
bo ray pre ha'gafin.”
Everyone at the table responds with “
The husband then takes a large piece of the challah, breaks it
into smaller pieces and passes the pieces to each person at the
table. Each challah piece is dipped in salt and each person eats his
or her portion together with the others. (Salt is used to commemorate
the grain offerings in the Temple, which were always required to be
used with salt. – Leviticus 2:13)
Finally, the husband lifts his glass of wine and recites the
following blessing:
Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.”
Amen”.Next, the husband or oldest man lifts the challah bread and
says the following prayer:
of the Universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.”
Amen”.One needs only a few things to perform the Sabbath service as we do
it...(1) a loaf of bread (preferably “challah”); (2) red wine (or grape
juice); (3) two candles; and (4) a shawl or similar head covering for
the woman. (A prayer shawl (tallit) or other head covering for the
man can also be used. I have one, but as I understand it, for a non-
Jewish man, such a head covering is optional.)
Jew,
“qadosh” – holy – and that is Shabbat. 
Is it possible…
