Deuteronomy 6:4 says "Hear O Israel, the Lord Thy God, the Lord is One.". Since the following verses speak of reciting these words when you lie down and when you get up, the Hebrew "Shema" prayer is said both morning and evening.
Christians are familiar with the "Shema", because it is quoted in the Gospel of Mark. A scribe asked Jesus which commandment is greatest of all. Jesus replied "Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord."
Jewish events are almost always marked by several "brachot" or "blessings". Since kindling of fire is forbidden on the Sabbath, the week is ended with candle-lighting, and then again the Sabbath is concluded with candle-lighting. The lighting of the fire indicates a separate between the holy and the common (or the secular and the profane).
Officially, the candle-lighting blessing should occur 18 minutes before sunset on Friday. The Torah forbids "kindling a fire" on the Sabbath, so the day is marked by lighting a candle immediately before it begins, and ends with lighting a candle at the Havdalah service (see below).
One of the most loved songs of Friday night is "Lecha Dodi", which literally means "Come My Beloved". The theme of this song is the bride and bridegroom - the Jewish people and God. It was composed in 1571 by Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz, renowned for his wisdom and poetry.
Many other songs and prayers fill the Sabbath, which is concluded Saturday evening with a brief ceremony called "Havdalah". It should be performed no earlier than nightfall (when three stars can be seen in the sky) on Saturday night. The word itself comes from the Hebrew word "L'HAVDIL", meaning to separate or to distinguish.
The short Havdalah service includes three brachot (blessings). The first is over a cup overflowing with wine (or grape juice). The second is over spices, which remind us of the sweet smell of the Sabbath which is now departing till next week. The third is over the fire/light of a special multi-wicked candle-stick.
The brief Havdalah ceremony typically concludes with the song "Eliyahu HaNavi" (Elijah the Prophet). The song goes as follows: "Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah, Elijah, Elijah the Gileadite, Speedily and in our days, Come to us, With the messiah, son of David, With the messiah, son of David. - 14915
Christians are familiar with the "Shema", because it is quoted in the Gospel of Mark. A scribe asked Jesus which commandment is greatest of all. Jesus replied "Hear, O Israel; the Lord our God is one Lord."
Jewish events are almost always marked by several "brachot" or "blessings". Since kindling of fire is forbidden on the Sabbath, the week is ended with candle-lighting, and then again the Sabbath is concluded with candle-lighting. The lighting of the fire indicates a separate between the holy and the common (or the secular and the profane).
Officially, the candle-lighting blessing should occur 18 minutes before sunset on Friday. The Torah forbids "kindling a fire" on the Sabbath, so the day is marked by lighting a candle immediately before it begins, and ends with lighting a candle at the Havdalah service (see below).
One of the most loved songs of Friday night is "Lecha Dodi", which literally means "Come My Beloved". The theme of this song is the bride and bridegroom - the Jewish people and God. It was composed in 1571 by Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz, renowned for his wisdom and poetry.
Many other songs and prayers fill the Sabbath, which is concluded Saturday evening with a brief ceremony called "Havdalah". It should be performed no earlier than nightfall (when three stars can be seen in the sky) on Saturday night. The word itself comes from the Hebrew word "L'HAVDIL", meaning to separate or to distinguish.
The short Havdalah service includes three brachot (blessings). The first is over a cup overflowing with wine (or grape juice). The second is over spices, which remind us of the sweet smell of the Sabbath which is now departing till next week. The third is over the fire/light of a special multi-wicked candle-stick.
The brief Havdalah ceremony typically concludes with the song "Eliyahu HaNavi" (Elijah the Prophet). The song goes as follows: "Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah, Elijah, Elijah the Gileadite, Speedily and in our days, Come to us, With the messiah, son of David, With the messiah, son of David. - 14915
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