An Introduction to Three Jewish Prayers
Perhaps the most well-known Jewish prayer is the “Shema”. This prayer is recited twice per day (morning and evening). The prayer is translated as “Hear Israel”, and refers to the entire verse “Hear O Israel, the Lord Thy God, the Lord is One.”
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).
Their is a brief prayer for candling lighting, typically called “Ner Shel Shabbat”. This is typically recited by the woman of the house. This is followed by the “bracha” or blessing said over the wine, then the bread.
The Sabbath is often greeted by the singing of an ancient prayer called “Lecha Dodi”. The title of the song literally means “Come My Beloved”. In this ancient Kabbalistic song, the sabbath is referred to as “a bride”.
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 wine cup is filled to overflowing, symbolizing the joy of the Sabbath day. The spices remind us of the sweetness of the Sabbath, which departs for another six days. The spices commonly used are cloves, cinnamon or bay leaves. They are commonly kept in a special decorated holder called a b’samim box.
“Eliyahu HaNavi” is the song that typically concludes the brief Havadalah ceremony. The song title translates as “Elijah the Prophet”. Elijah’s name is involved in the hopes that he will come to usher in the final eternal Shabbat of the Messianic Age.
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