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Jewish Life & Celebrations

Shabbat

The City Congregation Service to Welcome the Shabbat

This Shabbat service was developed by Rabbi Peter Schweitzer with assistance from members of The City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, New York City, 1994, 1997, 1998.

BIM BAM

Bim Bam Bim Bim Bim Bam Bim Bim Bim Bim Bim Bam (2)
Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat
Shabbat Shalom (2)
Shabbat Shabbat
Shabbat Shabbat Shalom (2)
Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shalom
Shabbat Shabbat Shabbat
Shabbat Shalom (2)
Bim Bam Bim Bim Bim Bam Bim Bim Bim Bim Bim Bam (2)

GREETING THE SHABBAT

Let us welcome the Shabbat,
a day of rest,
a day of peace.

A day of family,
a day of community

A day of learning,
a day of fun.

A day of memory
a day of hope.

Welcome Shabbat,
a wonderful day,
a day of great possibility.

CANDLES - NEROT

As the sun descends and shadows lengthen, the distractions of the day give way to the stillness of night. It is time now for us to see not with our eyes, but with our hearts and minds. As the day gives way to evening, it is time for us to welcome the Shabbat.

The candles stand before us waiting to be lit. We recall our ancestors as we too seek to dispel the darkness and banish the cold, to bring glowing softness, warmth, and safety into our homes.

All that is obscure and vague in life, all that frightens and confounds, finds its home in unlit spaces. So often, men and women have succumbed to the shadows and lost their way in the darkness.

‘Let there be light!"

This is the challenge to every person in every generation.

Even as a tiny candle dispels the gloom of the darkest hail, so the intelligence of a single person casts a way the shadows of ignorance. The spark of wisdom, once kindled, is quickly fanned into a warm blaze that melts the ice of fear.

May the dancing flames of these candles kindle warmth within our hearts, wisdom in our minds, and passion in our souls.

Ba-ruch ha-or ba-o-lam.
Radiant is the light within the world.

Ba-ruch ha-or ba-ah-dam.
Radiant is the light within each person

Ba-ruch ha-or ba-sha-bat.
Radiant is the light of the Shabbat.

AY-FO O-REE

(by Sherwin Wine)

Where is my light? My light is in me.
Where is my hope? My hope is in me.
Where is my strength? My strength is in me.
And in you.

Ay-fo o-ree? O-ree bee.
Ayfo teek-va-tee? teek-va-tee bee,
Ay-fo ko-khee? Ko-khee bee.
V-gahm bakh.

NA-EH HA-OR
(by Sherwin Wine)

Na-ey ha-or ba-ah-dam
Na-ey ha-or mee-khol ko-kha-veem
Na-ey ha-or mee-khol o-la-meem
Na-ey ha-or bah-ah-dam.

Marvelous is the light within us.
More wonderful than all the stars,
More wonderful than all the galaxies.
Marvelous is the light within us.

ON SHABBAT

On Shabbat we pause to reflect upon our yesterdays and tomorrows, to renew our ties with our families and friends, to restore our energies, to refresh our spirits.

On Shabbat we create our own moment in time.

On Shabbat we rejoice in the strength to win our daily bread, and in homes where we find refuge from the cold and the storm.

On Shabbat we treasure the bountjful earth whose fruits nourish us and sustain us in life.

On Shabbat we commemorate the first labor law ever written to guarantee workers and even animals a break from their toils.

On Shabbat we recall the love of mothers and fathers who have nurtured our lives, with whose blessing we have gone forth to our own work in the world

On Shabbat we cherish the children who bless our homes, whose eager minds and hearts are the promise of tomorrow.

On Shabbat we celebrate together the end of another week and the restorative power of leisure in the company of friends.

On Shabbat we proclaim the day a delight, we rejoice in its rest, and we treasure its tranquility.

WINE - YAYIN

We celebrate the fruit of the vine and the bounty of nature as we lift this cup and sip its wine. For we are part of nature which gave us birth and continues to sustain us. Even as we depend upon nature, so do we influence its course.

Through the search for understanding we have gained the knowledge to shape our world. Guided by the best of human wisdom and the compassion of our spirit, we accept the responsibility which rests upon us.

Wine is the symbol of the wholeness of life. There are times when we drink from bitter cups. There are also times when we savor the sweetness and joy that exalt life.

Wine reminds us that life is a mixture of both joy and sorrow. We resolve to accept them both and so affirm all of life.

May the taste of this wine upon our lips stir within us a reverence for nature, a respect for human endeavor, and an acceptance of the fullness of life.

Ba-ruch-eem ha-hy-eem ba-o-lam.
Precious is the life within the world.

Ba-ruch-eem ha-hy-yeem ba-ah-dam.
Precious is the life within us.

Ba-ruch-eem ha-yohtz-reem p’ree ha-ga-fen.
Praised are those who bring forth
the fruit of the vine.

L’Chaim!

BREAD - CHALLAH

As the braids of the challah intertwine, so do we join hands in our common humanity, sharing the fruits of our labors. We cherish that which has been created through human effort. For it is through the work of our hands, the strength of the human spirit, and the vision of our minds, that our dreams are woven into the tapestry of time.

We celebrate the accomplishments of yesterday and today, anticipating the possibilities of tomorrow.

May the sharing of this challah strengthen our bonds with others who walk upon this earth. As we enjoy this food, thankful for health and security, we are deeply aware of the needs of all people to share in the earth’s bounty.

Ba-ruch ah-mahl kah-pey-nu.
Blessed is the work of our hands.

Ba-ruch leh-khem ha-ah-retz
Blessed is the bread of the earth.

Ba-ruch-eem ha-mo-tzee-eem leh-khem meen ha-ah-retz.
Blessed are those who bring forth bread from the earth.

FOR ALL THESE GIFTS

Blessed is this place and all who are assembled here.
Blessed are those who join in this celebration of life.
We honor the Shabbat, a day of rest and peace, of rejoicing and celebrating.

We rejoice
in the gift of life,
the gift of wine,
the gift of bread,
and the gift of community
which have sustained us in life,
strengthened us in life,
secured us in life,
and enabled us to reach this day of joy,
contentment and peace.



SONGS

AMAR RABI AKIVA

A-mar Ra-bi A-ki-va (2x)
V’a-hav-ta l’rey-ah-cha
L’rey-ah-cha ka-mo-cha
Zeh k’lal ga-dol ga-dol ba-torah
A-mar Ra-bi A-ki-va

Said Rabbi Akiva:
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself’ This is the great principle of Torah.



BUEN SHABAT (Ladino)

Buen sha-bat
Buen sha-bat
Koon sa-lud ee-vee-da
Buen sha-bat
Buen sha-bat
Ah-toh-da la-fa-mee-lya.
Buen sha-bat
Buen sha-bat
Koon sa-lud ee-vee-da
An-yoos moo-choos
An-yoos moo-choos
Koon paz ee-ah-l’gree-ah

Good sabbath, with health and life, to the whole family.
Many years with peace and joy.

LO YISSA GOY (Isaiah 2:4)

Lo yis-ah goy el goy heh-rev
Lo yil m’doo ode mil-hah-ma

And everyone ‘neath vine and tree
Shall live in peace and harmony (2x)

And into ploughshares beat their swords,
Nations shall study war no more (2x)


NAH-AH-SAY SHA-LOM

Nah-ah-say sha-lom bah-o-lahm
Nah-ah-say sha-lom ah-lay-noo
V’al kol hah-o-lahm
V’eem-roo eem-roo sha-lom
Nah-ah-say sha-lom (2)
Sha-lom ah-lay-noo
V’al kol hah-o-lahm [2]

Let us make peace and friendship for all the world.



Sources:
"Shabbat" issue, Humanistic Judaism, 1994:
A Candlelighting Ceremony for Shabbat
A Havdala Service in the Humanist Tradition, Donald J. Pollock
A Shabbat Service for the Family, Daniel Friedman
A Shabbat Service, Machar (Washington, D.C.)
Blessings: Rabbi Sherwin Wine, Rabbi Daniel Friedman, Khal B’raira (Boston)
A Shabbat Service for the Home, Congregation Beth Adam (Cincinnati)
Celebration. A Ceremonial and Philosophic Guide for Humanists and Humanistic Jews, Sherwin T. Wine, 1988, Buffalo: Prometheus Books.
Kumzits! A Festivity of Instant Jewish Songs, edited by Pat Martz, Kopinvant Secular Press, 1996, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

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