Light one candle, and use that candle to light the others. Draw your hands up three times around the lights, toward your face, and then place them over your eyes to recite the following: ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך העולם  אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק נר של שבת Ba-rukh a-ta A-do-nai, Elo-hei-nu me-lekh ha-olam, a-sher ki-d’shanu b’mitz-vo-tav,  v’tzi-va-nu l’had-lik ner shel Shabbat. We praise God, ruler of everything, who made us holy through obligations, commanding us to light the Shabbat candles....

Now comes the central moment of the Shabbat service—the Amidah, the standing prayer. The Amidah comes in the middle of every Jewish service, and is traditionally recited silently, at least in part. On weekdays, it consists of 19 blessings, asking God for everything from health, to redemption, to healing, to peace. On Shabbat, it has been streamlined, eliminating some of the overt requests—on Shabbat we try not to request things of God, because even God is resting—and instead focusing on thanking...

Introduction Can I Wear This? Navigating The Bat Mitzvah Dress Code is a short film created by Ma’yan in collaboration with a group of NewYork City teen girls and their families. The film looks at the messages that girls get about what is “appropriate” dress for a batmitzvah. We created this discussion guide to help you engage with some of the issues the film raises, and more.You can use this guide to facilitate discussions with youth, parents or educators, in a...

We have reached the Barchu and Shema, key moments in any service. The Barchu is a communal call: Come, let us all bless God who blesses us. It is followed by two longer blessings. The first thanks God for giving us each day and night, light and darkness, the stars and the sun. In the second blessing, we thank God for loving the Jewish people and for the gift of Torah.   

At the start of the Amidah, it is customary to take three steps backward, then three steps forward and remain standing with your feet together through the entire Amidah. This is meant to remind us that we are standing in the presence of God, and should enter the spiritual realm with respect and reverence אֲדֹנָי שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ Adonai, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise. In some communities the first paragraph of the Amidah begins...

Shma:  Communal Declaration of Faith Hear, O Israel---The divine abounds everywhere And dwells in everything: the many are One. Sh’ma, yisrael— La’elohut alfey panim, M’lo olam sh’khinatah, Ribuy paneha ekhad.   Loving life and its mysterious source with all our heart and all our spirit, All our senses and strength, we take upon ourselves and into ourselves these promises: To care for the earth and those who live upon it, To pursue justice and peace, To love kindness and compassion. We will...

There is a mystical tradition that on Shabbat each person has a neshama yeteirah, an extra soul, who joins them on Friday night during Kabbalat Shabbat and leaves on Saturday with havdalah. Take a moment to focus yourself inward and try to find the neshama yeteirah expanding your soul, growing and taking you to a new and different place, emotionally and spirituall. The Kabbalat Shabbat service is about to come to an end, followed immediately by a special version of the...

In two paragraphs, the Aleinu concentrates a basic tension in Judaism: the tension between the particular ─ Israel’s special relationship with God ─ and the universal, the faith that all of humanity will someday fully recognize the one God. In its final form, the Aleinu dates back to the third century, but has an older history perhaps as far back as the Babylonian and Persian exiles of the Sixth and Fifth Centuries BCE. An earlier form was probably recited during the...

Avot ve’Imahot  The Eternal God is not the God of Abraham is not the God of  Isaac is not the God of Jacob is not the God of Sarah is not the God of Rebecca is not the God of my childhood is not the God of  my youth is not the God of my adulthood is not the God of my old age is not the God of my dying is not the God of my imagining. The Eternal God...

During the first line of the Shema, we cover our eyes to help us concentrate as we say:   שְׁמַע | יִשְׂרָאֵל, יְיָ | אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְיָ |אֶחָד: Sh'ma Yisra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad. Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One. In an undertone: בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד Barukh sheim k'vod malkhuto l'olam va'ed. Blessed be the Name of God's glorious sovereignty for ever and ever. If you prefer a God-optional version, use this time to reflect...

You should have two unbroken loaves of bread on the table, covered by a cloth or a napkin. Remove the napkin, touch both loaves with one hand and say the blessing: ברוך אתה ה' אלוהינו מלך העולם המוציא לחם מן הארץ Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, Hamotzi lechem min haaretz. Slice or tear the challah into enough pieces for everyone present. Sprinkle with salt, and distribute them.

by Sylvan Kamens & Rabbi Jack Riemer At the rising sun and at its going down; We remember them. At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter; We remember them. At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring; We remember them. At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer; We remember them. At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn; We remember them. At...

וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַֽיִם וְהָאָֽרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם. וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה. וַיְבָֽרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ, כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ, אֲשֶר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת. And the Heaven and the Earth were finished and all their host. And on the seventh day God finished working and rested from all the work which had been made. And God blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it through rest from all the work which...

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בּוֹאֲכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּרְכוּנִי לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא צֵאתְכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא Peace unto you, ministering angels, messengers of the Most High, of the supreme King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He. May your coming be in peace angels of peace, messengers of...

וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי, וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם.  וַיְכַל אֱלהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה. וַיִּשְׁבּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה.  וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אתוֹ. כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת.  סַבְרִי מָרָנָן וְרַבָּנָן וְרַבּוֹתַי:  בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי, אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן.  בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי, אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְרָצָה בָנוּ. וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָנוּ, זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. כִּי הוּא יוֹם תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קדֶשׁ זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת...