Deuteronomy 6:4 says "Hear O Israel, the Lord Thy God, the Lord is One.". Since the following verses speak of reciting these words when you lie down and when you get up, the Hebrew "Shema" prayer is said both morning and evening.
Christians are familiar with the "Shema", because it is quoted in the Gospel of Mark. A scribe asked Jesus which commandment is greatest of all. Jesus replied "Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord."
Brachot, or blessings, are associated with almost every Jewish event. The sabbath begins Friday evening, when the "bracha" (blessing) is said over the lighting of two (or more candles). This is followed by a short blessing over a cup of wine, and then the 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).
One of the most loved songs of Friday night is "Lecha Dodi", which literally means "Come My Beloved". The theme of this song is the bride and bridegroom - the Jewish people and God. It was composed in 1571 by Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz, renowned for his wisdom and poetry.
Many other songs and prayers fill the Sabbath, which is concluded Saturday evening with a brief ceremony called "Havdalah". It should be performed no earlier than nightfall (when three stars can be seen in the sky) on Saturday night. The word itself comes from the Hebrew word "L'HAVDIL", meaning to separate or to distinguish.
The word "Havdalah" itself come from the root word "L'HAVDIL" which means to separate or distinguish. The brief ceremony includes three "brachot" (blessings) over wine, spices, and fire. A special Havdalah candle is used that has several wicks; it is usually extinguished in the wine cup, or some wine that is poured into the saucer.
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. - 15784
Christians are familiar with the "Shema", because it is quoted in the Gospel of Mark. A scribe asked Jesus which commandment is greatest of all. Jesus replied "Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord."
Brachot, or blessings, are associated with almost every Jewish event. The sabbath begins Friday evening, when the "bracha" (blessing) is said over the lighting of two (or more candles). This is followed by a short blessing over a cup of wine, and then the 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).
One of the most loved songs of Friday night is "Lecha Dodi", which literally means "Come My Beloved". The theme of this song is the bride and bridegroom - the Jewish people and God. It was composed in 1571 by Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz, renowned for his wisdom and poetry.
Many other songs and prayers fill the Sabbath, which is concluded Saturday evening with a brief ceremony called "Havdalah". It should be performed no earlier than nightfall (when three stars can be seen in the sky) on Saturday night. The word itself comes from the Hebrew word "L'HAVDIL", meaning to separate or to distinguish.
The word "Havdalah" itself come from the root word "L'HAVDIL" which means to separate or distinguish. The brief ceremony includes three "brachot" (blessings) over wine, spices, and fire. A special Havdalah candle is used that has several wicks; it is usually extinguished in the wine cup, or some wine that is poured into the saucer.
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. - 15784
About the Author:
Learn more about Sabbath songs and prayers at our