The Shabbat (Edexcel GCSE Religious Studies B): Revision Note

Nature & Purpose of Celebrating Shabbat

The history of the Shabbat

• Shabbat (the Sabbath) is considered a day of rest for Jews

• It originates from the story of creation in Genesis

  • God rested on the seventh day after creating the world:

• Jews believe that God commanded them to keep the Shabbat day holy and there are strict instructions about observing it in the Torah:

• The command to observe the Shabbat is one of the Ten Commandments; observing it is a feature of the covenant between God and the Jewish people

• Shabbat begins on Friday at dusk and ends when three stars appear in the sky on Saturday

  • The times are printed in Jewish newspapers or available on apps to allow Jews to know exactly when Shabbat begins each week

  • Because the variation in times can be difficult for many working people, some Reform Jews allow Shabbat to be observed from 6 pm on Friday to 6 pm on Saturday

How Shabbat is observed in the home

• Preparation for Shabbat: In many Jewish homes, several preparations are made before Shabbat

  • The house is tidied, food is prepared, and two candles are placed on the dining table

    • The candles represent the two commandments received by Moses on Mount Sinai related to Shabbat, which were to "remember" and "observe" the Sabbath

  • Also on the table will be two loaves of challah bread to represent the food God provided for the Jews when they were walking through the desert as they escaped from Egypt

  • Everything must be prepared beforehand, as Jews do not do any tasks considered work once Shabbat begins

    • There are 39 categories of tasks considered ‘work’, including lighting the cooker to cook food because of the rule about kindling fire during the Shabbat:

• The start of Shabbat: On Friday evening, the focus of Shabbat is a meal that brings the family together

  • The candles are lit before Shabbat begins (lighting them after it begins would be considered work)

  • The woman in the family places her hands over her eyes and recites a blessing for her family

  • The start of the meal is marked by a Kiddush blessing over wine and a blessing over the challah by the father

    • Drinking wine shows that this is a joyful, celebratory time

    • The father dips a little of the challah in salt to remember the sacrifices at the Temple

  • During the meal, between courses, the parents tell Bible stories

  • Singing Shabbat hymns is a common feature

  • On Saturday morning the family will spend time at the synagogue, and then together at home. They may return to the synagogue for the afternoon service

• The end of Shabbat: The Havdalah ceremony at the end of Shabbat separates Shabbat from the rest of the week. Havdalah means 'separation'

  • The father says blessings over three items at this ceremony:

    • The Havdalah cup of wine which is filled to overflowing as an expression of hope

    • A special lighted candle

    • A Havdalah spice box is then passed around the family and taken into each room of the house so that the memory of Shabbat will linger like the scent into the week ahead

How Shabbat is observed in the synagogue

• Shabbat services are held in the synagogue on Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Saturday evening

• The main Shabbat service on Saturday morning can last for two hours 

• The main features of the main Shabbat service are:

  • The Amidah is recited as the congregation stands and faces Jerusalem

  • The Sefer Torah is removed from the Ark as the Shema is recited

  • There is a reading from the Torah, and then it is returned to the Ark

  • The rabbi gives a sermon

  • There is a series of prayers, including:

    • the Aleinu prayer to fulfil the Jew’s duty to praise and worship God: ‘Let us now praise the Sovereign of the universe, and proclaim the greatness of the Creator’

    • the Kaddish prayer to show God’s wisdom and power: ‘Exalted and hallowed be God’s great name, in the world which God created’

    • the Adon Olam ‘Master of the World’ hymn

Importance of Shabbat for Jews

• The Shabbat is considered important for Jews today because:

  • it is a core part of the Jewish faith and is the oldest Jewish festival

  • it is one of the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God

  • it is a day of rest and holiness, as God wished it to be

  • it is a day to connect with the worldwide Jewish community

  • it is a day of remembering the history and traditions of the Jewish faith and connecting Jews of today with their ancestors who were slaves in Egypt

    • The ability to stop work and rest is a powerful sign of their freedom

• The Shabbat is an important day for spending time with family and relaxing

• It is a time for Jews to learn more about God and their faith by joining in synagogue services and studying the scriptures

• There are opportunities for people to join study groups and youth groups on the Shabbat and therefore to make friends and socialise

• Observing Shabbat can be a challenge in the modern world, with issues including:

  • The time taken to observe Shabbat and how this can fit around modern working lives

  • Issues with what is considered ‘work’ and how the rules should be interpreted when life has changed so much since the time of Moses. For example, is it ‘work’ to use mobile phones or drive to the synagogue?