USCJ: TPI 6: Keeping Shabbat

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Timely Program Ideas

TPI 6: Keeping Shabbat

Achad Ha-Am taught, "More than Israel has kept the Sabbath, the Sabbath has kept Israel.” Throughout our history, Shabbat has been an essential part of Jewish life, reminding us of our connection to God, our creator and liberator. Shabbat is our oasis in time, when we have the opportunity to be with our families and communities and to share the joy of being Jewish.

Shabbat allows us to dedicate an entire day to being Jewish. It is a time replete with opportunities for Jewish growth as we take on more and more of the observances which make it a day unlike any other. Indeed, the beauty and fun of Shabbat home observances can create ties and memories that build a commitment to Judaism which can last for a lifetime.

For too many of us, Shabbat ends after the Friday evening service, or after the Shaharit service on Shabbat morning. It is essential that we teach our congregants that Shabbat is most special when we observe it for an entire day, beginning with a festive Shabbat dinner on Friday night and concluding with Havdalah on Saturday evening.

Another issue of Timely Program Ideas focuses on the ways that we can enhance and encourage observance of rituals on erev Shabbat. This issue will focus on the rest of Shabbat.

While many Jews would like to observe Shabbat and experience its ritual, spiritual, familial and physical benefits, it often seems "too difficult."

Observance of Shabbat appears so complex and vast that it is hard to know where to begin. It is the synagogue that can help to point the way, to educate our community about Shabbat.

To the unobservant Shabbat may seem like a high mountain which is impossible to climb, yet if we help them to build their observance, stage by stage, then the mountain will be surmountable. Indeed, congregants should be reminded that each of us is on our own ladder of observance and that they should not feel demeaned because they are on a different rung. The important thing is that each of us is willing to climb and add to our observance.

As synagogue leaders, we have the opportunity to help congregants to begin the climb up the ladder of Shabbat observance.

Attending services can be a difficult experience for many Jews. They may be uncomfortable, feeling that their Hebrew is not good enough to follow or understand the service. They may be worried that they will lose their place and feel lost. Or, they may simply be worried by unfamiliar songs and tunes, or even by a sea of unfamiliar faces.

A learners minyan for Shabbat morning (or for erev Shabbat) can be invaluable in increasing the comfort level and knowledge of congregants. It will also help to increase attendance at regular Shabbat services as congregants feel more confidant about joining the main congregation.

Plan a regular learners minyan led by a rabbi, cantor or knowledgeable lay person. The service should be broken into segments, each of which should be discussed during one of the services. The service should be led so that all participants will feel comfortable and follow along. Transliteration should also be provided for participants who cannot read Hebrew. While the learners minyan should be separate from the synagogue's principal service, its ultimate goal should be to enable participants to join with the main congregation.

If a learners minyan is not feasible in your synagogue, plan a series of classes to help congregants feel more comfortable participating in the service. A mentoring program will also help increase member comfort. Assign every new family that joins the synagogue (and/or other families in the synagogue that may want or need one) a mentoring family. The role of the mentoring family is to sit with their assigned family during services and to make sure that they feel comfortable. The mentoring family should also help the new family become integrated into the synagogue community.

A complete guide for setting up a learner’s minyan for erev Shabbat and for Shabbat morning is available from the USCJ, ext. 2629.

There are many family activities that are appropriate for Shabbat. While these activities accentuate the special nature - and rules - of Shabbat, they also can help to create a very special sense of quality family time. Shabbat should be a day dedicated to family life, when family members and/or friends spend time together away from the rushing around and chores of the remainder of the week.

A brief listing of some of these activities is found in the Jewish Living Now pamphlet "Shabbat Family Activities." This pamphlet can be an invaluable resource for parents, as they search for creative ways to make Shabbat meaningful for their families.

Synagogues should enable their congregants to learn about these Shabbat activities. This can be done in several ways:

Since the beginning of Shabbat is so pivotal, we often forget that the end is also important and can help to form a unified whole - an entire day dedicated to making Shabbat. Like erev Shabbat, motzei Shabbat is also an ideal time for home observance. Concluding Shabbat with a family Seudah Shelishit (third meal) followed by Havdalah can help to make the whole day unlike any other in the rest of the week.

As with other aspects of Shabbat, families in your congregation will need to be educated and enabled so that they can observe the rituals that conclude Shabbat in their homes. Again, experience is the key.

Plan one (or several) synagogue Shabbat afternoon programs. During these programs, teach songs that are appropriate for Shabbat afternoon. (B’kol Echad, available from the USCJ, ext 2004 includes Hebrew and transliteration for many Shabbat songs.) Also teach congregants the Havdalah blessings - their meaning and melodies - and the choreography of the service.

A short Havdalah handout, including a short explanation and the service can be ordered from USCJ. Give it to those who attend the program. (You may also want to distribute it more widely. It could be sent out to all your members with the synagogue's bulletin.)

Give each family a Havdalah candle which they can use during the service at the end of the program, and that they can use at home on future Shabbatot.

As a preparation for this program, ask your religious school to teach the children the prayers from Havdalah and the songs appropriate for Shabbat afternoon. The children can then play a leading role in the program.

Religious school classes can also make the various implements of Havdalah (the kiddush cup, candle holder, spice box, and even the candles) to be used during the program and then at home.

After the program, help to organize havurah style Shabbat afternoon programs in members' homes. This will help to reinforce the idea that Havdalah is primarily a home ritual. You may also want to use a mentoring program (see above) to help families gain the confidence to observe Havdalah on their own.

The Circulating Library of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is made up primarily of materials provided by affiliated congregations. Please send us descriptions of your successful congregational programs so that we can share them with other synagogues. Send them to the Department of Congregational Programming.

A computer program (DOS) is available for the Circulating Library. It includes a comprehensive search program and abstracts on every file in the Circulating Library. It will also help to automate the ordering of files.

The United Synagogue is pleased to announce the publication of a manual, Magnet Synagogues: A New Look at Synagogue Singles Programming. This booklet is a comprehensive guide for identifying participants, selecting and evaluating programs, and encouraging singles to join and participate in the wider congregation.

Copies of the manual may be obtained from the Department of Congregational Programming, 212-533-7800 (ext. 2620). Each synagogue is entitled to one free copy.