Teachings: Shabbat

A Map of a Shabbat Morning Prayer Service

The Bar/Bat Mitzvah (R)evolution continues!
Have you wondered if there's a shape, form or flow to Jewish religious services on weekdays, Shabbat or holy days? There is actually a beautiful flow and careful sequencing developed by the ancestors. We begin at ground level as individuals with prayers of gratitude for body, mind and soul. We ascend into the level of raising emotions with psalm singing where we begin to feel more like a community gathered than individuals assembling.

Understanding Shabbat as a Spiritual Practice

Important Bar/Bat Mitzvah Information about the Jewish spiritual practice called Shabbat. Ask most Jews what the holiest day of the year is and assuredly the answer you will most likely hear is “Yom Kippur.” While Yom Kippur is certainly a very holy day, did you know that within the Jewish tradition there is also a deeply-held conviction that each and every Shabbat is the holiest day of the year? This is why Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is also referred to as the “Sabbath of Sabbaths.” Every Shabbat, Jews practice traditions that are enriched with spiritual meaning. In this article, let us explore these deeper meanings.

What is Shabbat? A Time Manifesto

Once normal to civilizations,
The observance of holy days
Has become a radical spiritual act of self care.

Sacred time is shareware.
It’s free.
The only condition is you have to use it before you go,
There’s no refund at the finish line.

For the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Service: Guided Meditation for the Flame

You can do this on your own or with a group. If with a group, let your guests know you have guided visualization to share which will involve some chanting first, and some silence afterward. Tell them you will let them know when to emerge from the silence which will last for a few minutes.

Focusing softly on the flames, begin to chant from psalms the sacred phrase: "In Your Light, We see light, B'or-khah, Neereh Or, In Your Light." Recite this together slowly, over and over, let it become a chant. Very slowly take them through each of the levels of soul in the diagram. Be sure to leave quiet time between each level. Reflecting on each level can be very interesting and pleasurable and deserves time.

What Age for Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah?

B-Mitzvah (R)evolution

Parenting Today

Sample Story: Light

Light by Yisroel Bernath - from Mitzvah Stories: Seeds for Inspiration and Learning, Goldie Milgram and Ellen Frankel {Eds] with Peninnah Schram, Cherie Karo-Schwartz and Arthur Strimling, Reclaiming Judaism Press, 2011.