What do Jews do on sabbath?

Answer 1

In our family, the process starts earlier in the week. Clothes are washed and put away. Towards the end of the week, the Shabbos meal is is planned and purchased. On Friday morning, final touches on cleaning the house is completed. Challah bread is made. The Shabbos table is set. Toilet tissue and paper towels are removed and replaced with similar items that are pre-cut (to avoid tearing). Candlesticks are put out on a surface where they will not need to be moved until Shabbos is over. Letters are opened (again to avoid tearing), cans or packages that will be used to prepare the meal are opened. The blech is set up. (This is from a woman's point of view, the men typically have other preparations). Lights are programmed or if not on a timer, turned on or off for the duration (if having guests, we may put tape over some of the switches in the bathrooms or other places to avoid then inadvertantly being turned off). So many things to do, but always a joy to do them because it all prepares for this special day.

Answer 2

On sabbath (correct spelling: Shabbat) Jews rest and don't work or even turn on the light.

Answer:

The Jewish Sabbath is from Friday sundown until Saturday after twilight. Its origin is in the Torah (Genesis ch.2, Leviticus ch.23, Exodus ch.20 and many other passages).

The Sabbath is considered in the Jewish religion to be a day blessed by God (Genesis ch.2), a day of rest (Exodus ch.20, ch.31), and a day of strengthening ties with the family, the community, and with God.

Here is further background information:

There are two main aspects to Shabbat observance: what we do and what we don't do.

What we don't do: we're not permitted to work on the Shabbat (Exodus ch.20). This includes 39 categories of productive interaction with the world, such as planting, writing, kindling fire, etc. (Talmud, Shabbat 73b).

What we do: candles are lit, customarily by the lady of the household, around 20 minutes before sunset on Friday afternoon. We then attend synagogue for the Friday afternoon prayer (mincha), the kabbalat Shabbat (ushering in of the Shabbat), and the Shabbat evening prayer (maariv).

On Shabbat morning, we again attend synagogue. The services are longer than on weekdays and include prayers as well as reading the weekly Torah-portion. There's often a kiddush (refreshments) afterwards, and congregants have a chance to schmooze (to talk). Towards the late afternoon, there's another (short) service (Shabbat mincha).

After Friday night services and on Shabbat morning after services, we come home, often with guests, make kiddush (blessing over wine), and have a leisurely multi-course Shabbat meal including singing and words of Torah. Customarily, that week's Torah-reading (parsha) will be a topic of conversation; and the children of the family will have a chance to speak of what they've learned in school.

After that, Shabbat is a quiet time: no phones, radio or TV (etc.), just schmoozing, taking walks, visiting friends, reading, learning Torah, playing Board Games, etc. Husband and wife, in particular, finally have a chance to be together after a hectic week.

Answer 3

I am a religious Jewish male so i would know this. We dont use electronics (cell phones gaming devices laptops ipods ect.) form Friday night till Saturday night or drive cars or cook or turn lights on or off, we usually turn some on and leave them on. we also go to synagogue from around 8 am to 12 pm Saturday morning. we also have a dinner on Saturday night that is usually fancier than a normal dinner and say some prayers. that basically what i can remember off the top of my head.

Answer 4

In our family, the process starts earlier in the week. Clothes are washed and put away. Towards the end of the week, the Shabbos meal is is planned and purchased. On Friday morning, final touches on cleaning the house is completed. Challah bread is made. The Shabbos table is set. Toilet tissue and paper towels are removed and replaced with similar items that are pre-cut (to avoid tearing). Candlesticks are put out on a surface where they will not need to be moved until Shabbos is over. Letters are opened (again to avoid tearing), cans or packages that will be used to prepare the meal are opened. The blech is set up. (This is from a woman's point of view, the men typically have other preparations). Lights are programmed or if not on a timer, turned on or off for the duration (if having guests, we may put tape over some of the switches in the bathrooms or other places to avoid then inadvertantly being turned off). So many things to do, but always a joy to do them because it all prepares for this special day.

Answer 5

The Jew's call the sabbath day 'Shabbat' so that's what we will call it: so, Shabbat: Jewish people keep this day special because of G-d's commandment to keep one day of the week Holly. The commandment says that people should not do ANY work on his day! This includes driving a car or switching on a light. Shabbat is a family time. To begin Shabbat, the womman of the house lights two candles and says a blessing. If here are children, the father blesses them by placing his hands over their heads. Other blessings are recited over a cup of wine and over two loaves of bread called Challah. Then the family enjoys a special meal together! Hope this helps!

Answer 6

Shabbat is not "the Jewish day of prayer" as religiously observant Jews pray 3 times a day, every day. Rather, it is the day of rest. During Shabbat, Jews will go to synagogue for regular prayers, but it is also a day to spend with friends and family, to read, to play, to nap, to eat nice meals, etc. Anything that does not qualify as work according to the 39 categories of work specified in the Torah.

Answer 7

Praying in the synagogue (Shul), reading from the Torah, having the three festive meals, and refraining from 39 forms of work as outlined in the Mishna.

Answer 8

Jews traditionally begin the Sabbath by lighting candles shortly before sundown Friday. There is a Friday evening synagogue service, and Shabbat dinner is usually the most festive meal of the week, starting with a blessing, kiddush, over the wine and then the bread, challah. The Saturday morning synagogue service is the longest service of the weekly liturgy; it can easily last from 9:30 AM to noon in an Orthodox or Conservative synagogue. The service ends with a blessing over wine and bread, another kiddush, that in some synagogues, expands into a full communal lunch at the synagogue. Saturday afternoon is a good time for rest and relaxation. The Saturday afternoon service is relatively brief (and the least attended of the Sabbath services; some synagogues -- even Orthodox -- omit this service and leave people to pray at home). The final meal of the Sabbath is typically eaten at the very end, followed by Havdalah, a prayer and ritual that separates the Sabbath from the mundane days of the week.