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Shabbos: an Insider's View

Over the years, I've gotten lots of questions about "Shabbos," aka the Jewish Sabbath. What exactly do we do? Isn't it restrictive? And most critically, how do we live for 24 hours with no internet??  So I figured I'd give you all an insider's view as to what actually happens on Shabbos every week. [don't mind the photos. We don't use cameras on the Sabbath so the set up table is all you're going to get!]

To explain a Jewish Shabbos I first have to explain a Jewish Friday. Friday, for us, is crazytown.  It's also, according to Jewish Murphy's Law, the day that your car will break down, oven/fridge/stove/garage will malfunction, and power will cut out. It's just the way it goes.

After running around like a crazy person all Friday, Shabbos officially begins when I light the candles.

Once I've lit candles, I don't do any more work. What's done is done, and what hasn't been accomplished either isn't all that important, or my neighbor can lend it to me:) At this point, the hubby goes to the synagogue for services (in some communities, women go too, but since it's past my baby's bedtime, I hang out at home). I usually pray the Friday night service to myself since it has beautiful songs, and sometimes a friend or neighbor will come by to talk. It's a magical time, the first moment all week I truly exhale.  It's a time to just  be, and drink in the beautiful home, beautiful baby, and wonderful guy I've been so blessed with. About an hour later, the hubby returns home, sometimes with guests. We enjoy a nice dinner--we often go with themes when it's just the two of us, like an Italian night with Caesar salad, meatballs and pasta, garlic bread, red wine, and a yummy dessert. When we have guests we go more traditional, with soup, chicken, 3 or 4 side dishes, a salad, and a few desserts. I try to tell myself there are no calories on Shabbos:)   I usually end Friday night on the couch, talking to my hubby, and/or eating dessert or reading a book. I'm trying to find the words to describe what it's really like, but it might be the sort of thing you have to be there for. And then Friday night really concludes snuggled in my bed, with that delicious the-weekend-just-started knowledge that the next day, you can take your time, not set the alarm clock, and just breathe.

So that's a little sneak peek into Friday night for you---I'll be back with more on Shabbos, as well as some fun scrappy and home decor stuff soon!

And tell me, what is the best moment of YOUR weekend?

Posted by Keshet at 12:17 PM