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a progressive Reform Jewish congregation
2600 Bennett Valley Road, Santa Rosa California 95404
(707) 578-5519 fax: (707) 578-3967 email: shomrei@shomreitorah.org

Jewish life begins at home with families observing rituals based on Torah.

Putting Up a Mezzuzah
Inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
(Deut. 6:9, 11:20)

Mezzuzah literally means doorpost but is normally taken to refer to the case which holds the parchment and then is affixed to the doorpost.

On the parchment, which is called a klaf, is written the words from the Shema.

Mezuzah klaf are handscribed on parchment and should be checked twice every seven years and repaired or replaced if you can no longer read every character, similar to a Torah.

mezzuzah

Roll the parchment from the end to the beginning so that the word Sh'ma is on top.

Place it in the mezzuzah case. The mezzuzah should be affixed to the upper third of the right-hand doorpost (as you enter) but no less than one handbreadth (the width of your hand) from the top. It should be tilted with the top facing inward towards the entrance.

Say the following blessings:

When moving to a new home, leave your mezzuzah for the new family if they are Jewish.

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Observing Shabbat
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
(First of the Ten Commandments)

Shabbat reminds us of the creation of the world and our thanks to God for all we have. It is a chance for us to slow down, appreciate our world and draw closer to our family, community and God.

It is not always easy to take the time to separate from our work and focus on our personal and Jewish values. We can bring Shabbat into our homes with these small steps.

Lighting the Shabbat Candles

When all work is brought to a standstill, the candles are lit. Just as creation began with the word, “Let there be light!” — so does the celebration of creation begin with the kindling of lights.
— Abraham Joshua Heschel,
The Sabbath

Lighting a candle in the darkness is the most elemental human symbol of hope. When you light these candles, you reenact God’s opening act of creation — “Let there be light.” You also provide warmth — emotional as well as physical — for your home. Candle lighting sets this day apart; it creates sanctity and invites the Shekhina, God’s maternal presence, to be your honored guest and sit at your table. For women, it reinforces a bond of memory between mother and daughter going back hundreds of generations. May this be a peaceful and loving Shabbat, for you and all who share your home.

candles

Candles are lit between 18 and 90 minutes prior to sunset on Friday evening.

Light the two candles.

Many people have the custom of holding out their hands and then drawing them in to cover their eyes. Some repeat the gesture of “drawing in” a number of times. Shabbat begins in darkness — a world without light, but then we open our eyes to its light. Anytime we make a rapid transition from darkness to light, our eyes are dazzled by the light. We symbolically create Shabbat’s brilliant radiance by moving from darkness to light. We follow this with an open-armed gesture of welcome as we draw into ourselves the light and warmth of Shabbat.
— Michael Strassfeld

It is traditional but not required to draw your hands around the candles and toward your face. This is commonly done three times, but can be done up to seven times. You would then cover your eyes with your hands while saying the blessing:

Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat.

Listen

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has made us holy with mitzvot and instructs us to kindle the lights of Shabbat.

I have added another brief ritual to my candle lighting, a very private one... I decided that at candle lighting time each Friday night, I would let my thoughts dwell for a moment on each child, picture their faces and think about their lives. I once mentioned it to them, and now they all light candles on Friday night and think for a few moments about us.
— Blu Greenberg

This is a traditional time to make a prayer for your family or friends.

Greet those around you with Shabbat Shalom and with the affection conveyed by a smile, a hand-shake, a hug or a kiss.

Download our Lighting Shabbat Candles pamphlet.

Making Shabbat Evening Kiddush

kiddush

Raise the cup of wine or grape juice by holding it in your hand, cupped at the bottom.

Vayehe erev, vayehe voker, yom hashishi. Vayechulu hashamayim ve'ha-aretz vechol tzeva'am vayechal Elohim bayom ha-shevi'i melachto asher asah. Vayishbot bayom hashevi'i mikol melachto asher asah vayevarech Elohim et yom hashevi'i vayekadesh oto ki vo shavat mikol melachto asher bara Elohim la'asot.

Listen

Now the whole universe - sky, earth, and all their array - was completed. With the seventh day God ended the work of Creation; on the seventh day God rested with all the Divine work completed. Then God blessed the seventh day and called it holy, for with this day God had completed the work of Creation.

Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam boray p'ri ha-gafen.

Listen

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam ahser kidshanu bemitzvotav veratza vanu veshabbat kodsho be'ahavah u'vratzon hinchilanu zikaron le'ma'asay vereshit ki hu yom techilah lemikra'ay kodesh zecher l'tziyat mitzrayim. Ki vanu vacharta ve'otanu kisahta mikol ha'amim veshabbat kodshecha be'ahava u'vratzon hinchaltanu. Baruch atah Adonai mikadesh ha-Shabbat.

Listen

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who makes us holy with mitzvot and takes delight in us. In love and favor, You have made the holy Sabbath our heritage, as a reminder of the work of Creation. It is first among our sacred days, and a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt. O God, You have chosen us and set us apart from all the peoples and in love and favor have given us the Sabbath Day in your love and favor. Praised are You Adonai for the Sabbath and its holiness.

Then drink the wine or grape juice.

Hamotzi - Blessing over the Shabbat Challah

 challah

Cover the Challah with a cloth during the candlelighting and Kiddush.

Uncover the Challah and hold it up for the blessing:

Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha'olam hamotzi lechem meen ha'aretz.

Listen

Praised are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Pass the Challah for all to share.

Havdalah - Observing the Conclusion of Shabbat

Pour kosher wine into a Kiddush Cup. Buy or make a spice box (or pouch; something that smells like good spices). Light special braided Havdalah candles.

As you say the first prayer, take a sip of the wine. As you say the second prayer, smell the savory spices. As you say the third prayer, watch the light reflected off of your fingernails. And as you say the fourth and final prayer, dip the burning candle into the wine. Listen to the sizzle of Havdalah, the end of Shabbat.

Blessing over wine:

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, bo're p'ri hagafen.

Blessing over spices:

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, bo're minei b'samim.

Blessing over braided candles:

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, bo're m'orei ha'esh.

Blessing over Havdalah:

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech h-aolam, ha'mavdil bein kodesh l'chol, bein or l’choshech, bein yisrael la-amim, bein yom ha-sh'vi'i l'sheshet y'mei ha-ma'a'se. Barukh ata Adonai, ha-mavdil bein kodesh l'chol.
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