Shabbat is the designated Jewish day of rest. This idea originally comes from a passage at the beginning of the Torah. It is written about how God was so busy creating the world, but He stopped his work entirely and rested on the 7th day.
Over time, the Shabbat and how it is observed has evolved from its one-size-fit-all structure. Strict laws and restrictions have become more of a working guideline to those who wish to celebrate and enjoy the day of rest in our modern world.
The benefits of having a 'day-off' from the rest of the week are many. Combining this thought with connecting to the Jewish religion and culture can create an uplifting experience for the whole family.
There is no need to stress about keeping the Shabbat entirely. If you are a non-observant family that has or wants a closer connection to the Shabbat, we want to present to you a couple of ways to make this day unique and different on your own terms.
Below are three suggestions to bring a Jewish spark to your Shabbat experience to make it comfortable and enjoyable for everyone.
Let's get to it!
Shabbat Dinner
The stable of many Jewish homes, observant and non-observant alike, is the Shabbat dinner, also known as Friday night dinner. Friday night can be a time when everyone is eager to begin the weekend, and often this reason can lead to the family splitting in different directions. Everyone seems concerned about relaxing in ways that are special to them.
Shabbat dinner, however, is a time to create a unique space for your family to sit down and unwind together. During the weekday, a family doesn't always have the luxury of ending the day at the same time. Designating Shabbat dinner as a time of family bonding creates a specific time and place that everyone knows, without a doubt, they will have a chance to see and connect to their loved ones.
You can further this experience by reflecting on your week together at the dinner table or perhaps talking about your future plans for the upcoming week. Add another unique element to this evening by cooking and preparing the Shabbat meal together.
Maybe spice things up and try to incorporate one or two traditional Jewish recipes or family ones saved for holidays or special occasions. Or perhaps get inspired by foods and flavors from countries you wish to visit.
Uplift this evening together in a way that makes it more than 'just another family dinner'!
Prayer
Prayer is an act many completely connect with or have difficulty even trying to start. Prayer doesn't have to come from a prayer book, be in a synagogue, or have a set time to connect to something greater than yourself. Since Shabbat is considered a holy day, it is an ideal time to gather your thoughts and pray in a way that is comfortable for you.
The usual grind of the weekday can make us focus on so many external factors; work, errands, bills, etc. Shabbat can provide a much-needed opportunity to give attention to the often neglected spiritual side of ourselves.
A couple of suggestions on creating a connection to spirituality can be lighting the Shabbat candles and praying before or after you light them. You might feel compelled to pray before or after your Shabbat meal or make it more of a family event by simply discussing your wishes for the upcoming week at the dinner table. Shabbat is the ideal time to practice connecting to the spiritual side of yourself.
Remember, prayer and spirituality are intimate and unique to the individual. This can be a great subject to talk about during the Shabbat with your family to see how everyone can feel comfortable incorporating the act of prayer into their lives.
Create Your Own Tradition
Shabbat is a day that is singled out from the rest of the week. As we mentioned earlier, it was the day that God chose to chill and relax
after creating the whole world! So, what can one do to make the Shabbat a special time for everyone?
A fun and creative way to differentiate this day from the rest of the week is to create a new family tradition specific to Shabbat.
You can start by opening a discussion with your family. Find an action that, as a family, you all can keep just for Friday night or Saturday. Create this new tradition to be as big or small as you want. Whichever act the family feels the most comfortable with!
When creating this new tradition, think of the goal you wish to achieve. Think of what Shabbat can mean to you and your family. Should you all set aside Shabbat to be a time for family bonding? Maybe Shabbat
should be reserved to give back to your community as a family. Perhaps this new family tradition can help you accomplish a family-oriented goal.
Some examples could be avoiding actions that remind an individual of work or the typical day-to-day such as answering emails or text messages. Saturdays can be reserved for when the whole family watches a movie together or volunteers at the local food bank. Discuss possible options that all can participate in.
This new family tradition should connect you to each other as well as to the Shabbat.
Few! That was a lot of information! These were just a couple of examples of how families can ignite the spark of Shabbat in their lives. Each individual connects and relates to this special day in numerous ways.
So - we want to hear from you...
What drives your Jewish spark for Shabbat?
How does your family currently connect to the Shabbat? What are some of your family's beloved traditions?
Do you have suggestions on how to create a bond with both your family and Shabbat?
Make sure to let us know in the comments or tag us on social media!
We hope that you found this article helpful and that it helped ignite a spark in you to try something new to relate to your unique Jewness.
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