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Candle
Lighting Times
May 2008
The
Jewish Sabbath has been called an "oasis in time." This
heavenly gift, "Divine Therapy," if you will, is a unique
opportunity for spiritual and psychological renewal that
comes every week - and it's free! Contemporary observers
often speak of the need for "quality time." Shabbat teaches
that there cannot be quality time without quantity time.
Shabbat is indeed an idea whose time has come. As we enter
the 21st century, the world has never needed Shabbat more.
Our society desperately needs time to catch its breath,
to look inward, not outward, to be introspective. We need
an opportunity to hug our children, look our spouses in
the eye, and engage in true communication, without constant
interruptions of telephones, radios, videos and computer
games. For all our valued technological advancements - walkmen,
beepers, cellular phones, Internet, satellite dishes, etc.
- our ability to communicate has greatly diminished. In
fact, studies indicate that the average American parent
speaks with his/her children no more than 12 minutes a day
and watches television 49 hours a week! We, and our families,
need "sacred time." Shabbat provides just that, and much
more. It has been said, "More than the Jews have kept the
Sabbath - the Sabbath has kept the Jews." It is an elixir
of life. It is G-d's greatest gift to human-kind. Embrace
it! Savor a taste of the world to come.
1.
Friday night Kiddush.
Kiddush (the blessing
over the wine) is said over wine or grape juice. If there
is no wine or grape juice, the Kiddush may be recited over
Challah (Sabbath bread). The Kiddush contains verses from
Genesis describing the Sabbath of Creation, followed by
the blessing over wine, and closes with the blessing of
sanctification.
Va'yehee
erev
va'yehee voker yom ha'sheeshee. Va'yechulu ha'shama-yim
v'ha-aretz v'chawl tz'va-am. Va'yechal Ehlo-him
ba'yom ha'shevee-ee m'lach-to asher asah, va'yishbot
ba'yom ha'shevee-ee meekawl m'lach-to asher asah.
Va'yevarech Ehlo-him et yom ha'shevee-ee va'yekadaysh
oto, kee vo shavat meekawl m'lach-to asher bara
Ehlo-him la'asot. Sav'ree maranan v'rabanan v'rabotai:
Baruch atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu melech Ha-olam,
boray p'ree hagafen. Baruch atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu
melech Ha'olam, asher kideshanu b'mitzvotav v'ratzah
vanu, v'Shabbat kawdsho b'ahavah uvratzon hin'cheelanu,
zeekaron l'ma-asay v'raysheet. Kee hu yom t'chilah
l'mikra-ay kodesh, zaycher lee'tzi-at mitzrayim.
Kee vanu vacharta v'otanu kidashtah meekawl ha'amim,
v'shabbat kawdsh'cha b'ahavah uvratzon hin'chaltanu.
Baruch atah Ado-nai, m'kadaysh Ha'Shabbat.
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It
was evening and it was morning, the sixth day. The
heavens and the earth were finished, with all their
complement. On the seventh day, G-d had completed
His work which He had undertaken, and He rested
on the seventh day from all His work which He had
been doing. Then G-d blessed the seventh day and
made it holy, because on it He rested from all His
creative work, which G-d had brought into being
to fulfill its purpose. Blessed are you L-rd, our
G-d, ruler of the world, creator of the fruit of
the vine. Blessed are you L-rd, our G-d, ruler of
the world, who made us holy with His commandments
and favored us, and gave us His holy Shabbat, in
love and favor, to be our heritage, as a reminder
of the Creation. It is the foremost day of the holy
festivals marking the exodus from Egypt. For out
of all nations You chose us and made us holy, and
You gave us Your holy Shabbat, in love and favor,
as our heritage. Blessed are you, L-rd, who sanctifies
the Shabbat.
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2.
Netilat Yadayim. Washing of
the hands. This ritual is in preparation for the eating
of bread, in this case, the Shabbat Challah. A cup containing
a minimum of 4-5 ounces of water, is used to wash the hands.
While pouring once over each hand is deemed sufficient,
many people pour twice over each hand to insure that no
impurities remain on the hands. Also, there is a custom
to start each libation with the right hand, which in Midrashic
literature symbolizes strength. After the washing of the
hands, a prayer over this act is said. Upon completion of
the prayer, the blessing over the Challah is recited. The
act of washing is done specifically to prepare us to make
a blessing over and to eat the Challah. The combination
of washing and eating the Challah is part of one joint action,
therefore, we do not speak until both prayers are recited.
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Baruch
atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu melech Ha-olam, asher kideshanu
b'mitzvotav v'tzeevanu al n'teelat yadayim.
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Blessed
are you L-rd, our G-d ruler of the world, who sanctified
us through His commandments and commanded us, to wash
our hands
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View theNJOP
Washing Poster!
3.
Challah. The Sabbath
bread. On Shabbat tables throughout the world, two (braided)
loaves of Challah can be found. They are also called "lechem
mishneh" because they represent the double portion of manna
that the Israelites gathered on the sixth day (Exodus 16:22).
The Challot are covered above and below to symbolize the
two layers of dew between which the manna is said to have
fallen, protecting it from the sand below and the sun's
heat above. The blessing of Hamotzee is made over the Challot,
and then they are sliced and eaten. The Challah is dipped
in salt as a commemoration of the sacrifices which were
salted and offered up on the altar. You may resume speaking
after you have received your piece of Challah, have taken
a bite, and swallowed.
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Baruch atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu melech Ha-olam,
ha'motzi lechem min ha'aretz.
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Blessed
are you L-rd, our G-d ruler of the world, who brings
forth bread from the earth.
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These blessings are followed by the Shabbat Meal. Many
eat a traditional Shabbat meal, from gefilte fish to chicken
soup, but Shabbat fare can be as creative as you are! On
Shabbat, we are commanded to eat the foods that we enjoy.
Rabbinic teachings explain that G-d will repay us for the
money we spend to enhance the glory of Shabbat, so go ahead
- Dig in!
4.
Zemirot. Table songs. Between
courses Zemirot are sung. Again, the medieval kabbalists
instituted this practice, and many of the Zemirot contain
kabbalistic references. Most of them discuss the sanctity
of the Sabbath, G-d's covenant with the Jews, and his role
as supreme creator. Many rhyme, and several are acrostical.
Some date as far back as the 10th century. A nice selection
of Zemirot can be found in the Young Israel "Shiron Ha Shulchan",
or in the "NCSY" Grace after meals booklet ("bencher"),
available at any Judaic book store for a minimal charge.
This paper-back booklet contains all of the blessings discussed,
complete with English translation and Hebrew transliteration.
5.
Shir HaMaalot. A pilgrim's
song. Before grace after meals, Shir HaMaalot, Psalm 126,
is sung. It foretells the restoration of Zion and is sung
on Shabbat and festivals. 6. Birkat HaMazon- - Grace after
meals. The fact that Judaism requires a blessing not only
before eating, when we are hungry, but after the meal, when
we are satiated, is in consonance with Jewish teachings,
which remind us to recognize G-d in good times, as well
as bad. By saying Grace after meals, we acknowledge that
although we may have done the physical labor necessary to
obtain the meal, in reality, it is G-d who provides us with
our sustenance. On behalf of THE NATIONAL JEWISH OUTREACH
PROGRAM, we wish you a "Shabbat Shalom".
Shabbat
candles should be lit at least 18 minutes before sunset.
Two candles (minimum)
are lit,
then
both hands are waved towards the face, symbolically drawing
in the light of the candles and the sanctity of the Sabbath.
The eyes are then covered and the blessing is recited:
| Baruch
atah Ado-nai, Ehlo-haynu melech Ha-olam, asher kideshanu
b'mitzvotav v'tzeevanu l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat |
| Blessed
are you L-rd, our G-d ruler of the world, who sanctified
us through His commandments and commanded us, to kindle
the lights of the Sabbath. |
You
can also add your own prayer - ask G-d for whatever you
wish. Now, uncover your eyes, enjoy the soft light of
the candles, and feel the holiness of the Shabbat descend
upon you and your household.
Times
for May 2008
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most current information
| May 2008 Nissan-Iyar 5768 |
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2 |
9 |
16 |
23 |
30 |
| Atlanta |
8:04 |
8:09 |
8:14 |
8:19 |
8:24 |
| Baltimore |
7:43 |
7:50 |
7:56 |
8:02 |
8:08 |
| Boston |
7:27 |
7:35 |
7:42 |
7:49 |
7:55 |
| Buffalo |
8:00 |
8:07 |
8:15 |
8:22 |
8:28 |
| Chicago |
7:33 |
7:40 |
7:47 |
7:54 |
8:00 |
| Cincinnati |
8:14 |
8:21 |
8:27 |
8:33 |
8:39 |
| Cleveland |
8:08 |
8:15 |
8:22 |
8:29 |
8:35 |
| Dallas |
7:52 |
7:57 |
8:02 |
8:07 |
8:11 |
| Denver |
7:37 |
7:44 |
7:51 |
7:57 |
8:03 |
| Detroit |
8:15 |
8:23 |
8:30 |
8:37 |
8:43 |
| Hartford |
7:32 |
7:40 |
7:47 |
7:54 |
8:00 |
| Honolulu |
7:25 |
7:28 |
7:32 |
7:35 |
7:39 |
| Houston |
7:41 |
7:46 |
7:50 |
7:55 |
7:59 |
| Los Angeles |
7:20 |
7:25 |
7:31 |
7:36 |
7:40 |
| Memphis |
7:29 |
7:34 |
7:40 |
7:45 |
7:50 |
| Miami Beach |
7:35 |
7:39 |
7:43 |
7:46 |
7:50 |
| Milwaukee |
7:36 |
7:44 |
7:52 |
7:59 |
8:05 |
| Montreal |
7:45 |
7:53 |
8:02 |
8:09 |
8:16 |
| New York |
7:35 |
7:43 |
7:49 |
7:56 |
8:02 |
| Omaha |
7:04 |
7:12 |
7:19 |
7:25 |
7:31 |
| Philadelphia |
7:38 |
7:45 |
7:52 |
7:58 |
8:04 |
| Phoenix |
6:54 |
6:59 |
7:05 |
7:09 |
7:14 |
| Pittsburgh |
7:59 |
8:06 |
8:13 |
8:19 |
8:25 |
| Portland |
8:01 |
8:09 |
8:18 |
8:25 |
8:32 |
| Saint Louis |
7:36 |
7:43 |
7:49 |
7:55 |
8:00 |
| Saint Paul |
8:01 |
8:10 |
8:18 |
8:26 |
8:32 |
| San Fancisco |
7:43 |
7:50 |
7:56 |
8:02 |
8:07 |
| Seattle |
8:05 |
8:15 |
8:24 |
8:32 |
8:39 |
| Toronto |
8:03 |
8:11 |
8:19 |
8:26 |
8:33 |
| Washington |
7:44 |
7:50 |
7:57 |
8:03 |
8:08 |
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