The Beginner's Guide: How to Make Shabbat Meaningful and Engaging

In the turbulent sea of modern life, there exists an island of sanity known as "Shabbat." Amidst a sea of tasks, concerns, and endless responsibilities, comes that moment when everything quiets and comes to a standstill- the time for lighting Shabbat candles. Though Shabbat disconnects us from the world, through this very disconnect, we connect with our soul, our loved ones, and Hashem.

To make Shabbat engaging, to bestow blessings throughout the week, and to recharge us energetically, it is essential to fill it with uplifting content and activities that make us eagerly anticipate its return.

The Shabbat Schedule: What Does It Look Like?

The typical Shabbat schedule includes lighting Shabbat candles and using this opportune time for prayers over what matters most to us. We then attend the synagogue for the Shabbat reception, singing together the traditional melody "Lecha Dodi Likrat Kala..." with all synagogue attendees. We listen to a short sermon on the weekly Torah portion, followed by the Ma'ariv prayer. We then return home for Kiddush and a family Shabbat dinner where the entire family sits together, converses in a pleasant and relaxed atmosphere, studies a bit of Torah, sings Shabbat songs, and enjoys a specially prepared Shabbat meal.

In the morning, we attend synagogue for Shacharit and Musaf prayers, followed by another Shabbat meal at home. In the afternoon there is the Mincha prayer and the third meal, accompanied by singing "Yedid Nefesh."

Additional List: Delightful Shabbat Activities

During Shabbat, especially during long summer Shabbat afternoons, there is plenty of free time which should be filled with uplifting activities such as reading strengthening Jewish books, participating in Torah classes at synagogues, spending quiet, quality time with the children, conversing with them calmly, showing interest, playing, giving attention and personal care, studying Torah with a partner or alone, a couple's conversation over coffee and cookies, a family stroll in the neighborhood, and taking the children to the playground without interruptions; storytime with moral messages; visiting families for Shabbat meals, or just enjoying company, reciting Tehillim, visiting observant family members who live nearby, Shabbat games on various Jewish subjects, family or couple learning from a book on different subjects like faith and trust, marital harmony and parenting, character refinement, ethics, the weekly Torah portion, Halacha (laws of gossip, Shabbat laws, kashrut, etc.), and more, organizing a communal Tehillim reading among neighbors or at the synagogue.

Shabbat is the holy covenant between us and Hashem, and when it is filled with Jewish family, and moral content, it provides us with spiritual, mental, and psychological sustenance, connecting us with ourselves, our family, and our Creator.

The Weekly Challenge

Choose one thing from the two lists that caught your eye, and incorporate it into your Shabbat.

Another challenge is to organize a 'Community Shabbat' (at no cost) at your nearby synagogue, with one of Hidabroot's rabbis. You can read about it here, and also here.
To invite a Community Shabbat with prominent Hidabroot rabbis (at no cost),click hereor call now 073-2221361.

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