January 04, 2007
B"H
Shavua Tov – A Good Deed For This Week
1/5/2007
This week we initiate a new project at Etz Hayim. Every week we will send out an email describing a Jewish activity that you can do this week. The email will consist of three parts: Implementing Judaism (which names the deed for this week), Its Roots (which offers a bit of background), and Your Paths To Action (which gives you some instruction or direction on how to implement this teaching). Beginning in February we will include this in the newsletter. We hope to have it available on the web site soon. We invite your response, comments and suggestions.
Implementing Judaism:
Thank God it’s Friday
Its Roots:
Genesis 2:1-3 – The heaven and earth were finished and all their array. On the 7th day God finished the work that God had been doing, and God ceased on the 7th day from all that work which God had done. And God blessed the 7th day and declared it holy.
Consider all the work you do. It is important and tiring. Step back from your work to look at all you have accomplished and to look at the way your piece of the action fits into the Divine work of the world’s progress. You have contributed to the work of Creation, and now you have earned a bit of rest. It is an opportunity to step back, take a pause, bless your work and your family, and declare it holy.
Your Paths To Action:
Traditionally one enters Shabbat by lighting candles, blessing your family and enjoying a meal. Here is information on lighting the candles and blessing your family. More detail can be found at urj.org/_kd/Items/actions.cfm?action=Show&item_id=1202&destination=ShowItem
Lighting the Candles: It is customary to light two candles made especially for Shabbat, which remain burning until they go out. One explanation for the two candles is that they represent the two Torah commandments concerning Shabbat: “keep” and “remember”. Keeping Shabbat is understood as an obligation to observe Shabbat, and remembering Shabbat is associated with preparing for it.
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner
shel Shabbat.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with commandments and commanded us to light the Shabbat candles.
Blessing each other on Friday night: It is customary for parents to bless their children and each other, concluding with the priestly blessing. The sources of the tradition for blessing children are biblical. Isaac blessed his sons, Jacob and Esau. And Jacob blessed his grandsons Ephraim and Menasseh. The blessing for girls recalls the matriarchs of our people. The priestly blessing is taken from the biblical book of Numbers (6:24-26.) As the parents say the blessing, they place their hands on the children's heads.
Traditional blessing for a girl:
Ye-si-maech Elohim k'Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel v'Leah. May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.
And for a boy:
Yesim'cha Elohim k'Efraim, v'chi-Menasheh. May God make you like Ephraim and Menasseh.
This is followed by the Priestly blessing:
Yivareche-cha Adonai v'yish-m'recha. Ya'er Adonai panav ay-lecha vi-chu-neka. Yisa Adonai panav ay-lecha v'ya-sem l'cha Shalom.
May God bless you and keep you. May God turn toward you and be gracious to you.
May God turn to you and grant you peace.
Many couples also bless each other, or say a few loving words. Traditionally a man recites a passage from Proverbs 31:10-31... known as Eyshet Chayil (woman of valor) to his wife. Women can offer Psalm 112... Or You can read from your ketubah (marriage contract.)
To light the candles and to bless the family may only take a few minutes, but it can change the entire week. Let me know if you add this practice to your repertoire of making Shabbat special.
Shavua Tov – May you have a good week.