Whether you’re spending this Shabbat alone or with others, use this blessing to send a message of love and peace to those you care about.    May you feel love and security wherever you go. May you radiate with light and gratitude throughout your days. May a spirit of amazement reside within you always, and may you find peace. (adapted from the blessing for children)

Take a deep breath. Think about where you were last Friday night. Where were you? How did you spend the evening?  Now, follow the thread from Friday into Saturday, Sunday and through each day of the week. What was something that made you smile? What challenged you? Did you eat something delicious? Did you quarrel with someone? Whatever happened, seal the week with another deep breath and get ready to sink into the comfort of Shabbat.

Take the cover off your challah (or any kind of bread) and hold it up, like Simba over Pride Rock as you say the blessing together.    בָּרוּך אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם הָמוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הַאָרֶץ Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Before we eat, we wash our hands. You can use soap and water (for at least 20 seconds). Or you can use a cup to pour water over your hands. Feel the water splash on your hands and notice the temperature. As you dry your hands, say the blessing.    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדַיִם Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al n’tilat yadayim. Blessed are You, Adonai our God,...

Fill a glass with wine or grape juice. The word kiddush, means holy. This moment, just before we take a sip, will only happen once. Savor it as you say this blessing, then drink.   בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, borei p’ri hagafen. Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. 

Light two candles (or one for each member of your family). Pause for a moment to look into the flames. Circle the flames with your hands three times and then cover your eyes as you recite the blessing. Peeking is OK!     בָּרוּך אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם אַשֶׁר קִדְשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶל שַבָּת Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, whose mitzvot...

Shabbat. Somehow our ancestors knew, without a scientific study or thousands of retweets, that we humans are hard-wired to need a break.  That’s why the word Shabbat has the same Hebrew root as the word to sit, l’shevet. The ancient rituals of Shabbat gently nudge us to separate from the weekday grind and instead to unplug, notice, reflect and relax.  There’s a belief that we each get an extra soul on Shabbat. A little more spiritual life and breathing room in...

ועם רוחי גויתי יי לי ולא אירא V'im ruchi g'viati, Adonai li v'lo ira For as long as I have breath, You are with me; I will not fear

A simple song to greet the new week    Shavu-a tov! (8x) A good week, a week of peace, may gladness reign and joy increase (2x)

Eliyahu HaNavi A song about Elijah the Prophet, whom tradition tells us will announce the coming of the messiah. We sing it during the Passover seder too. This version includes a verse for Miriam the Prophetess, who will lead us in song and dance in this time where all our ideals are realized.   Eliyahu hanavi, Eliyahu hatishbi, Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu hagiladi. Bimheyra v’yameynu yavo eyleynu im mashiach ben David, im mashiach ben David  Elijah the prophet, from Tishbi, from Gilead—come quickly...

Havdalah means separation, distinguishing, setting boundaries. It begins when it's dark enough to see three stars in the sky on Saturday evening, making Shabbat about 25 hours long. We are in no hurry to end Shabbat, this time of rest, and rush back into the energy of the rest of the week. Ritual items for the Havdalah service: • Cup of wine or grape juice • Braided Havdalah candle with two or more wicks intertwined  • Sweet smelling spices like cloves...

Opening Prayer for Havdalah As Shabbat ends, we sing this prayer with a bit of longing for the holiness and joy of Shabbat that is now ending.  הִנֵּה אֵל יְשׁוּעָתִי, אֶבְטַח וְלֹא אֶפְחָד, כִּי עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ יְיָ, וַיְהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה. וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם מַֽיִם בְּשָׂשׂוֹן, מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה. לַייָ הַיְשׁוּעָה, עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה. יְיָ צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ, מִשְׂגָּב לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה. יְיָ צְבָאוֹת, אַשְרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵֽחַ בָּךְ. יְיָ הוֹשִֽׁיעָה, הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵֽנוּ. לַיְּהוּדִים הָיְתָה אוֹרָה וְשִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשׂוֹן וִיקָר. כֵּן תִּהְיֶה לָּֽנוּ....

Blessing for Ending Shabbat Havdalah means separation. We are marking the transition from the specialness, the holiness of Shabbat and into the ordinariness of the rest of the week. At the end of this blessing, we dip the candle into the cup of wine, extinguishing the flame with a sizzle. Some people have a custom of dipping their fingertips into the wine and then onto their eyelids and pockets to bring the blessings of Shabbat with them into the rest of...

Blessing of Fire for Havdalah Lift the candle high and invite everyone to reach up look at the flame to see the reflected light   בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ. Baruch atah, Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha’olam, boray me’oray ha’aysh. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fire's lights

Blessing of Spices Pass around a spice box filled with cinnamon and cloves, a basket with herbs like rosemary and sage, or any spices that smell good to you. Take a deep breath in and let the fragrant scents remind you of the joys of Shabbat as it draws to a close.    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים. Baruch atah, Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha’olam, boray minay vesamim. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who...

The Blessing over Wine or Grape Juice Lift the cup as you say the blessing בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן. Baruch atah Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha’olam, boray pri hagafen. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.