Shabbat. Somehow our ancestors knew, without a scientific study or thousands of retweets, that we humans are hard-wired to need a break.  That’s why the word Shabbat has the same Hebrew root as the word to sit, l’shevet. The ancient rituals of Shabbat gently nudge us to separate from the weekday grind and instead to unplug, notice, reflect and relax. 

There’s a belief that we each get an extra soul on Shabbat. A little more spiritual life and breathing room in our lives as we light the candles, drink the wine and bless our food. We hope you, your extra soul and anyone else you’re spending time with enjoy this Shabbat meal together.


“More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.” 
Ahad Ha’am, founder of Cultural Zionism

Now we have said some prayers, sang some songs, learned hopefully some new things about this holiday, and we are ready to pause our program to just eat and chat.  But what is a seder without four questions? While you eat, talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you some topics.

Why is this night different from all other nights?

On most other nights, we probably don't light any candles at all, or we light two (for Shabbat, for Yom Tov, for ambience). Only tonight do we dine among so many candles all in one room.

On most other nights, we try to avoid this many different fried foods at one meal, lest our cardiologists and lipids specialists yell at us. Tonight we tell those doctors THIS OIL IS ORDAINED BY GOD.

On most other nights, we stave off the winter cold by cuddling up under blankets. Tonight we are warmed by the love of community.

On most other nights, we honor that we are modern Reform Jews. Tonight we honor the long chain of religious history and fierce determination of our ancestors to resist assimilation.

Discuss.

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Once the children at the seder have finished eating, they may go on a search for dreidles hidden in the lobby, library, and playroom. For every dreidle found, win a prize! And enjoy playing some dreidle while we wait for the adults to finish noshing and schmoozing.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Urim Sameach. Tonight we are attempting something that I don't believe has ever been done before - a Chanukah Seder. We are incorporating Shabbat and Chanukah blessings and songs, and adding in some new ways to honor the holiday as modeled by the Passover Seder, which was itself modeled after the concept of a Greek Symposium. We encourage full participation in the seder as a whole, but that also means opportunities to talk amongst yourselves at your tables, shouting out responses to things in this haggadah, coloring in pages, and using all your sense to immerse in this celebration.

This is not your average prayer service.

Light two candles (or one for each member of your family). Pause for a moment to look into the flames. Circle the flames with your hands three times and then cover your eyes as you recite the blessing. Peeking is OK!  

 

בָּרוּך אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶך הָעוֹלָם אַשֶׁר קִדְשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶל שַבָּת

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, whose mitzvot add holiness to our lives and who has given us the mitzvah to kindle the lights of Shabbat 

Now we have said some prayers, sang some songs, learned hopefully some new things about this holiday, and we are ready to pause our program to just eat and chat.  But what is a seder without four questions? While you eat, talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you some topics.

Why is this night different from all other nights?

On most other nights, we probably don't light any candles at all, or we light two (for Shabbat, for Yom Tov, for ambience). Only tonight do we dine among so many candles all in one room.

On most other nights, we try to avoid this many different fried foods at one meal, lest our cardiologists and lipids specialists yell at us. Tonight we tell those doctors THIS OIL IS ORDAINED BY GOD.

On most other nights, we stave off the winter cold by cuddling up under blankets. Tonight we are warmed by the love of community.

On most other nights, we honor that we are modern Reform Jews. Tonight we honor the long chain of religious history and fierce determination of our ancestors to resist assimilation.

Discuss.

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************

Once the children at the seder have finished eating, they may go on a search for dreidles hidden in the lobby, library, and playroom. For every dreidle found, win a prize! And enjoy playing some dreidle while we wait for the adults to finish noshing and schmoozing.