Shabbat
Shabbat is the centerpiece of Jewish life, and has been so since the infancy of Israel. According to the Talmud, Shabbat is equal to all the other commandments. Shabbat is so central to Jewish life, that the term shomer Shabbat (Shabbat observer) is synonymous with “religious Jew” in common parlance.
Shabbat is a day of rest and celebration that begins on Friday at sunset and ends on the following evening after nightfall.
Every Friday evening, we make a special point of dressing nicely, and arriving to dinner in time for the kiddush. It’s important to be punctual, since the candles are to be lit at least 18 minutes before sunset.
The Torah commands the Jewish people to “remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it.” The sages understand this to mean the faithful Jew must verbally declare the Sabbath a holy day, so on Friday night a special prayer is said over wine in a ritual of sanctification.
Everyone stands for the Kiddush as it is sung
The sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all their complements were finished.
And G‑d finished by the Seventh Day His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
And G‑d blessed the seventh day and made it holy, for on it He rested from all His work, which G‑d had created to do.
Attention Gentlemen! Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the world, who creates the fruit of vine.
Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, king of the world, who made us holy with His commandments and favored us, and gave us His holy Shabbat, in love and favor, to be our heritage, as a reminder of the Creation. It is the first of the holy festivals, commemorating the exodus from Egypt.
For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and with love and goodwill given us Your holy Shabbat as a heritage.
Blessed are You, Lord, who sanctifies Shabbat.