Shabbat Shalom

The Shabbat dinner is a time when Jewish families come together  for a special dinner where the father prays a blessing over the wife, the parents pray a blessing over their children, and the children pray a blessing over their mother.

Kainoa (9) and Kili (3) helping with dinner prep

Shabbat - שבת (sha-bat) "This is the Hebrew word שבת shabbat literally meaning a 'ceasing' or 'stopping.' This word is always used in the Hebrew Bible for the seventh day, the Shabbat, the day work ceases for the purpose of rest" - Jeff A. Benner

From the following passage, we learn that Shabbat is a time of ceasing work but also a time for "holy" gatherings.

Leviticus 23:3 “Six days work is done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a set-apart gathering. You do no work, it is a Sabbath to יהוה in all your dwellings".

Missionaries from our church led many of our church families in the traditional Shabbat dinner, as we all celebrated together one evening.  It was wonderful.  

No, we are not Jewish.  We understand, though, what a powerful experience this is for a family - to set aside this time each week... to pray over each other...to speak blessings over each other.  What a bonding time.  Drawing near to one another...fathers to their children...children to their mothers.  It is a holy time.  

 

 

We invited some dear families over to have a Shabbat-ish type dinner over at our home.  We had a potluck with some delicious food.  After dinner we gathered together – at sunset, under the trees – and each family had their time of prayer and blessing.  The fathers prayed over their wives and families, and then the children prayed over their moms.  My family also prayed over my mom.  What a special time it was.

Nancy Campbell from Above Rubies  ministry shares this:

“The father of the home then blesses each of his children. This is another wonderful part of the Shabbat meal. It is such a powerful moment when the father blesses and speaks vision and good things into each one of his children every week. It is delightful to see the children with uplifted faces drinking in the blessing and encouragement. They can feed on it all week. Don’t forget the baby and little ones. Start speaking into their lives from an early age. “

The following is a guide we were given to help us begin to celebrate Shabbat dinners at home...

Shabbat Shalom

“Foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve Him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship Him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to My covenant, these I will bring to My holy mountain and give them joy in My house of prayer.” Isaiah 56:6-7

Traditionally, Shabbat is observed from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday. It is an appointed time set by God, an invitation to meet with Him and to enter into His rest. Will you be there?

To start the Sabbath, the mother of the house would light two candles welcoming the Holy Spirit and the gift of Shabbat and offering a prayer of thanksgiving.

Lighting the Candles

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid’shanu b’dam Yeshua vitzivanu l’heot.

Blessed are you oh Lord our God, King of the Universe who sanctifies us by the blood of Yeshua and commands us to be a light to the nations.

The father then prays a blessing over the wine and bread, acknowledging that all of our blessings come from God.


Bread

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam ha motzi lechem mein ha’aretz. Amen.

Blessed are you oh Lord our God, King of the Universe who brings forth bread from the earth.


Wine

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam boray pre hagafen. Amen.

Blessed are you oh Lord our God, King of the Universe who brings forth fruit from the vine. La hime!

Blessings

—The father and mother bless the children (blessing of love and impartation of faith for their future)

—Husbands bless their wives (praising her in the presence of her children)

—Children rise up and bless their mom

May Shabbat be the most enjoyable time of the week, a time you and your children will look forward to and remember with joyful and thankful hearts. May you find complete wholeness, peace, joy and restoration as you enjoy God’s goodness, and may He bless you with the fullness of His blessings as you celebrate Shabbat!

“There remains then a Sabbath rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. “ Hebrews 4:9