Erev Shabbat Ceremony

Erev Shabbat Service

(Hebrew for Evening of the Sabbath)

The Erev Shabbat Service is a special service performed by the Jewish people for over 2,000 years. It would have been performed in the time of Jesus. It is a great way to welcome in the Sabbath as a family and make the dividing line between Holy Time of the Sabbath and the common time of the week we are leavening behind.

As you read this ceremony, you will see Jesus name used as “Yeshua”, which is the Hebrew rendering of his name.

What You Will Need to Celebrate:

  1. A pair of candle holders with two white candles and matches
  2. Wine or grape juice with glasses
  3. A pitcher of water, a bowl and a towel
  4. Two loaves of bread (challah is traditional)
  5. A salt shaker
  6. A nice napkin to cover the bread
  7. A special dinner

How to Celebrate

Traditionally, the man and woman lead their family in celebration of the Sabbath, however anyone can perform the service. The steps are numbered in the order that they should be performed. The speaking parts are denoted by blue text. Explanations for each step are included in italics. For people not familiar with celebrating the Sabbath, it is useful and edifying to read the explanations aloud as the celebration is being performed.

  1. Preparation Prayer

The preparation prayer is spoken by the woman before lighting the Sabbath candles. Traditionally, the woman sometimes covers her head with a scarf while lighting the candles. A small pair of candles may also be lit by a daughter, as she learns from her mother.

She starts with the following blessing:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the blessings of your rest and peace this evening. Holy Spirit, be with us as we partake of this Shabbat. Fill our hearts and minds with your shalom, your peace that surpasses all understanding. Guide each of us that we may bless one another with our words and actions. We ask your blessing over our home and family. Pour out your Spirit upon us as we partake of your Shabbat, your rest.

May our home, our hearts and our minds be used by you to bring the news that your Messiah has come, has risen and will come again! In the name of Yeshua Ha Mashiach we pray. Amen.

  1. Lighting the Candles

As the woman lights the candles remember that God chose another woman, Mary, to bring forth “The Light of the World” (John 8:12). The woman of the household then repeats the following blessings:

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam, asher kid-shanu b’mitz-votav, v’tzinvanu l’hadlik neyr shel Shabbat

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe who has set us apart by Your commandments and has enjoined upon us the kindling of the Sabbath light.

Creation (lighting the first candle) This candle represents creation. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…And God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light.” – Genesis 1:1,3.

Redemption (lighting the second candle) This candle represents redemption. Yeshua said, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” — John 8:12.

 

  1. Blessings

The man lays a hand upon his wife and each child as he asks the Lord’s blessing upon them. To the wife, he may read Proverbs 31:10-31 “A wife of noble character…” He continues with an appropriate blessing, such as:

Lord, I thank You for Your blessing of this woman to me. I ask that You bless her. Remove all fear and doubt from her heart and mind. Grant her Your shalom, Your peace that surpasses all understanding. I ask that You guide her steps and guard her path from Satan. Let her know that I am committed to You, and I am committed to her. In the name of Yeshua the Messiah I pray. Amen.

The woman lays her hands on her husband and prays for him:

Lord, I thank You for the blessing of this man to me. Give him wisdom and understand in handling our household business. Give him wisdom as the priest of our household. Give him strength as he provides and guides us. Give him your shalom and peace with surpasses all understanding. Let him know that I am committed to You, and I am committed to him. In the name of Yeshua the Messiah I pray. Amen.

To the children the man may read Psalm 127:3 “…children are a reward from Him.” He continues with an appropriate blessing such as:

Lord, I thank you for the blessing of this child. I ask that You fill him/her with Your Holy Spirit and guard his/her footsteps. I ask that You guard his/her path from Satan. I ask that You build his/her character in Your likeness, in truth, honor and light. I ask that You remove fear from this child and fill him/her with Your Holy Spirit. In the name of Yeshua the Messiah I pray, Amen.

  1. The Fruit of the Vine

The cup is held at the base by the fingers, causing them to point upward. They represent the children of God, reaching up and longing for Him. The man of the household follows with the blessings:

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam, boaray peree ha-gofen

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. Thank you for giving us Yeshua our Messiah who is the vine. We are the branches. Everyone drinks.

  1. Bread

In Leviticus 24:5-9, bread was to be set on the altar each Sabbath as a lasting covenant. The two loaves on the table are symbolic of the double portion of manna which God provided on Fridays for the children of Israel when they wandered in the wilderness. The bread is covered with a cloth, which symbolizes the dew that was around the camp when the Israelites woke up in the desert. When the dew evaporated, the manna, God’s provision of bread was on the ground.

Traditionally, Challah is used as the bread (see related recipe). Challah is a braided bread formed by braiding strips of dough. This braid is said to represent folded arms, as in rest. This is NOT communion bread. Communion bread has to be made without yeast.

The man of the household follows with the blessings:

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam, ha-motzee lechem min ha-aretz

Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Starting with the man, everyone breaks off a piece of bread to eat. A tradition is to sprinkle a little salt on the second bite, recalling Genesis 3:19: “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food.”

 

Thank you Lord for Jesus, who is the Bread of Life.

  1. A Special Dinner is served

 

  1. Grace after the meal

Deuteronomy 8:10 says, “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you.”

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam, ha-motzee lechem min ha-aretz

 

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the blessings you have given us. I thank you for the blessing of this family to me. I ask that you strengthen our love for each other and that you fill us with your Holy Spirit as we continue to enjoy your Shabbat, your rest. I thank you in the name of Yeshua, the Messiah, who came, died for our salvation, was raised from the dead and will return to receive all who call upon His Name. Amen.

 

The remainder of the evening and the next day, until sundown are for rest and enjoying each other and the Lord!