The Sabbath Service Friday Night
The Service begins in song.
Everyone is encouraged to join in the songs… most of the words are transliterated in the prayer book.
BARECHU
The beginning prayer to set the mood. The leader asks the question: “Can you praise God?”
and the congregation answers “Yes, we can praise God.”
MA’ARIV ARAVIM
A reflection of Creation and time. Day to Night, Month to Year, Season to Season.
AHAVAT OLAM
Revelation of God and of Torah. A prayer we sing about God’s Love and the Law of the Torah.
SHEMA
Hear O Israel. The Eternal One is our God, The Eternal God alone!
There is ONE GOD! The most important prayer of all Jewish people everywhere
is the simple declaration of God’s monotheistic existence. But it’s meaning transcends the translation as it holds the faith of Jews everywhere in this simple declaration.
V’AHAVTA
The prayer that follows the Shema tells of the ways we are to remember that God is One. Love God with
all your heart. Teach this to your children. Remember it at all times. Put reminders of this all around you.
Remember the commandments.
EMET & MiKHAMOKHA
A prayer about Truth and Redemption followed by the declaration of God’s uniqueness.
“Who is like God? Only God is like God…”
This prayer was sung by the Israelites after the miracle at the Red Sea when they were free from slavery.
HASHKIVEINU
Ask for God’s protection as we go to sleep each night.
V’SHAM’RU
Reminder that the Shabbat is an important link between the people of Israel and God.
AMIDAH
Means “to stand”, so we stand. Is also called T’FILAH meaning THE PRAYER. This central part of
the service contains universal & personal formulaic prayers answering questions such as “Who am I?
Where did I come from? What should I be like? What do I want? To whom do I owe thanks?”
This prayer contains the following:
AVOT & IMAHOT Remember all our ancestors: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, and Rachel… and all who followed. We continue their mission to bring good to the world.
G’VROT Confirms the mightiness of God.
KEDUSHAT HA SHEM To praise God for the holiness of the Sabbath.
AVODAH To ask that our service and prayers be acceptable.
MODIM A prayer of thanks.
SHALOM A prayer for peace throughout the world.
(Weekday services add 13 Petition Prayers which on Shabbat becomes one prayer for Thanks for Shabbat)
A TIME FOR PERSONAL PRAYER
SERMON or TEACHING
CONCLUDING THE SERVICE
ALEINU
Is about hope for the future and Tikun Olam, repairing the world. It is also a short review of the service.
KADDISH
Is the part of the service where we think about life and people who have died. We praise God for the
gift of these people’s lives. Take a moment to remember people who you knew who have died. We ask for a personal peace together with peace for our community.
ONEG SHABBAT – Means Delight In Sabbath
It is customary that immediately following the service, everyone joins for an Oneg Shabbat, to celebrate as a community.