Shema Yisrael (often called simply "The Shema"), the Biblical passage from Deuteronomy 6:4, is certainly the best known of all Jewish prayers. It is part of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. The phrase of course menas "Hear Israel", and refers to the entire phrase "Hear O Israel, the Lord Thy God, the Lord is One.".
Even the New Testament quotes the Shema. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is asked by a scribe "What is the greatest commandment". He replied with the "Shema".
The Shabbat typically begins (on Friday evening) with candle-lighting and "Kiddush". The Sabbath table is set with two candles (or more), a special kiddush cup is filled to the rim with wine or grape juice, and two loaves of challah bread.
Officially, the candle-lighting blessing should occur 18 minutes before sunset on Friday. The Torah forbids "kindling a fire" on the Sabbath, so the day is marked by lighting a candle immediately before it begins, and ends with lighting a candle at the Havdalah service (see below).
"Lecha Dodi" is a song sung on Friday evening to greet "the Sabbath Queen". Literally, the phrase means "Come My Beloved". The Sabbath itself is referred to as a "bride" in this song.
Havdalah is a brief ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath. It comes from the word "l'havdil" which means to distinguish or separate. Three blessing are recited as part of this service: 1) The blessing over the wine, 2) the blessing of the spices, and 3) the blessings over the fire (a special multi-wicked Havdalah candle it lit).
The wine cup is filled to overflowing, symbolizing the joy of the Sabbath day. The spices remind us of the sweetness of the Sabbath, which departs for another six days. The spices commonly used are cloves, cinnamon or bay leaves. They are commonly kept in a special decorated holder called a b'samim box.
The brief Havdalah ceremony typically concludes with the song "Eliyahu HaNavi" (Elijah the Prophet). The song goes as follows: "Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah, Elijah, Elijah the Gileadite, Speedily and in our days, Come to us, With the messiah, son of David, With the messiah, son of David. - 16955
Even the New Testament quotes the Shema. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is asked by a scribe "What is the greatest commandment". He replied with the "Shema".
The Shabbat typically begins (on Friday evening) with candle-lighting and "Kiddush". The Sabbath table is set with two candles (or more), a special kiddush cup is filled to the rim with wine or grape juice, and two loaves of challah bread.
Officially, the candle-lighting blessing should occur 18 minutes before sunset on Friday. The Torah forbids "kindling a fire" on the Sabbath, so the day is marked by lighting a candle immediately before it begins, and ends with lighting a candle at the Havdalah service (see below).
"Lecha Dodi" is a song sung on Friday evening to greet "the Sabbath Queen". Literally, the phrase means "Come My Beloved". The Sabbath itself is referred to as a "bride" in this song.
Havdalah is a brief ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath. It comes from the word "l'havdil" which means to distinguish or separate. Three blessing are recited as part of this service: 1) The blessing over the wine, 2) the blessing of the spices, and 3) the blessings over the fire (a special multi-wicked Havdalah candle it lit).
The wine cup is filled to overflowing, symbolizing the joy of the Sabbath day. The spices remind us of the sweetness of the Sabbath, which departs for another six days. The spices commonly used are cloves, cinnamon or bay leaves. They are commonly kept in a special decorated holder called a b'samim box.
The brief Havdalah ceremony typically concludes with the song "Eliyahu HaNavi" (Elijah the Prophet). The song goes as follows: "Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah, Elijah, Elijah the Gileadite, Speedily and in our days, Come to us, With the messiah, son of David, With the messiah, son of David. - 16955
No comments:
Post a Comment