F1: Shabbat

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Jewish Books

There are sooooooooooo many fantastic Jewish stories related to Shabbat (like the one above or one the back page). You could use one either as an introduction to the subject, or as a basis for a discussion. If you can't find any stories, call Makor-AJY on 020 8446 8020 - they'll be happy to send you a few.

Attending a shiur or study weekend

You could find someone who runs a Shabbat shiur that you know to be popular/enjoyable (perhaps by trying one out yourself?), and ask that person to come and give an explanatory talk about it at your assembly. This might spark off some interest in people that otherwise wouldn't think of trying it.

Alternatively, there might be synagogues or youth groups in your area that run weekends away for young people. If so, one of them might be able to come in and give a talk about it and encourage some of your audience to go along and try something new.

52 times a year

Fifty-two times a year is a lot. A Bar/Bat Mitzvah is once in a lifetime, Yom Kippur is once a year and Seder night is two nights in a year. Shabbat happens a lot more often than any other special Jewish day. We can either let it go by every week and just do the same normal thing or we can mark the change and development in our lives with another Shabbat every week, making it special and memorable.

A true story

The train dragged on with its human freight. Pressed together like cattle in the crowded trucks, the unfortunate occupants were unable even to move. The atmosphere was stifling. As the Friday afternoon wore on, the Jewish men and women in the Nazi transport sank deeper and deeper into their misery.

Suddenly an old Jewish woman managed with great effort to move and open her bundle. Laboriously she drew out - two candlesticks and two challot. She had just prepared them for Shabbat when she was dragged from her home that morning. They were the only things she had thought worthwhile taking with her. Soon the Shabbat candles lit up the faces of the tortured Jews and the song of 'Lecha Dodi' transformed the scene. Shabbat with its atmosphere of peace had descended upon them all...

Students' Shabbat thoughts...

These are all genuine answers by British students when asked "what is Shabbat to you?":

"For me Shabbat is a time of togetherness which underlines what Judaism is all about."

"Shabbat used to feel restrictive to me. Now I have realised that it is the opposite. It represents irreplaceable time to be with my family and friends - in an atmosphere heightened by the release of everyday pressures."

"Shabbat is an opportunity to reflect on the week gone by, to relax with friends and family, to think, to appreciate life and thank God for what we have."

"Without Shabbat, I don't know how I'd start the week."

Feelings as Shabbat ends....

"Shabbat is now over. Much as I love Shabbat and could not live without it, I am happy to see it go. I feel rested, relaxed and raring to go. Perhaps I will keep a bit of the Shabbat serenity with me during the week. But I doubt it. If not, I will rely on the coming Shabbat to restore an added measure of dignity and peace to my life" Blu Greenberg (1)

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