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SHABBAT

Nusach Ari · candles, the table, and Havdalah

What Changes

The Short VersionL1
The Amidah's middle thirteen blessings are replaced by one. That is the biggest single change, and it happens at every Shabbat Amidah.
You do not ask for things on Shabbat. No healing, no livelihood, no ingathering of exiles - the requests come out and one blessing about Shabbat goes in. The first three and last three stay exactly as you know them.

Also gone: Tachanun, Lamnatzeiach, Mizmor L'Toda, and Avinu Malkeinu. Added: a fourth service, Musaf, after Shacharit.

No tefillin on Shabbat. Shabbat is itself the sign that tefillin represent, so wearing them would be redundant. Tallit yes, tefillin no.
KavanahDuring the week you daven as someone who needs things. On Shabbat you daven as someone who already has them.

The Alter Rebbe explains it this way: the weekday Amidah brings things down, while the Shabbat Amidah uncovers what is already here. That is why the requests come out - not because asking is forbidden, but because it does not fit the day.
The Shape of the DayL1
Friday: candles before sunset, Mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat, Maariv, Kiddush. Shabbat: Shacharit, Torah reading, Musaf, Kiddush, Mincha. Night: Maariv, Havdalah.
Five Amidahs across the day instead of the usual three, because Musaf is added and Mincha of Shabbat has its own text.

If you are new and only doing part of it, the highest-value pieces are Friday night Kiddush and Shabbat morning up to the end of Musaf. Everything else can wait.

Friday - Candle Lighting

LightingL1
Lit eighteen minutes before sunset. Once lit, Shabbat has started for whoever lit them.
Traditionally the woman of the house lights; a man living alone lights for himself, with the blessing. Two candles at minimum; many light one for each child.

Order is reversed here. Normally you bless and then act. With candles you light first, cover your eyes so you do not benefit from the light, say the blessing, then uncover - because saying the blessing accepts Shabbat, after which you could not strike a match.

Chabad girls from age three light one candle of their own.
KavanahThe moment right after the blessing, while your eyes are still covered, is a traditional time to ask for things - for your children, for someone's health, for whatever is on your mind. There is no set text and nobody is listening.
light first, then cover your eyes and say this
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֺתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבַּת קֹדֶשׁ.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat kodesh.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the light of the holy Shabbat.

At the Table

Shalom AleichemL2
Sung on returning from shul, before Kiddush. Four verses, each sung three times.
The Talmud says two angels walk a person home from shul on Friday night, one good and one not. This is addressed to them.
KavanahYou greet them, ask for a blessing, and then send them away in peace, all in four short verses. Nobody is asked to stay.
sing each verse three times
שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, מַלְאֲכֵי עֶלְיוֹן, מִמֶּלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא.
Shalom aleichem mal'achei hasharet, mal'achei elyon, mimelech malchei ham'lachim, hakadosh baruch hu.
Peace to you, ministering angels, angels of the Most High, from the King of kings of kings, the Holy One, blessed is He.
בּוֹאֲכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם...
Bo'achem l'shalom mal'achei hashalom...
Come in peace, angels of peace...
בָּרְכוּנִי לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם...
Bar'chuni l'shalom mal'achei hashalom...
Bless me with peace, angels of peace...
צֵאתְכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם...
Tzeitchem l'shalom mal'achei hashalom...
Go in peace, angels of peace...
The full verses are in your siddur; only the opening words are here so far.
Eshet ChayilL4
Sung by the husband to his wife before Kiddush. Proverbs 31.
Twenty-two verses, alphabetical. Sing it from your siddur.
KavanahIt is a description of a woman running a household, a business and a family, and it is sung by the man of the house out loud, every week, in front of everyone at the table.
Washing and HamotziL1
After Kiddush: wash hands with the blessing, do not speak until after you have eaten some bread.
Pour three times over each hand alternately, as in the morning. Dry, then say al netilat yadayim.

Two whole loaves for the blessing - a reminder of the double portion of manna that fell on Fridays. Cut, dip in salt, eat, and only then talk.
no talking from here until you have eaten bread
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֺתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל נְטִילַת יָדָיִם.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al netilat yadayim.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.

Kabbalat Shabbat

What It IsL4
Six psalms, then Lecha Dodi, then Psalms 92 and 93. Said before Maariv on Friday evening.
Psalms 95 through 99 and 29 - one for each weekday - then Lecha Dodi, then the two Shabbat psalms. Say the six psalms from your siddur.

This is a young service by Jewish standards. The kabbalists of Tzfat invented it in the sixteenth century, going out into the fields at sunset to greet Shabbat.
Lecha DodiL4
Nine stanzas, each followed by the refrain. At the last stanza, turn to face the entrance and bow at bo'i chala.
Written by Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz in Tzfat. His name is spelled out by the first letters of the stanzas.

The refrain and the final stanza are here; the middle stanzas are not typed yet. In Chabad the last stanza is sung by everyone and the room turns around for it.
KavanahYou turn away from the front of the room and face the door, because you are going out to meet someone arriving.

The song calls Shabbat both a bride and a queen. Bride is how the day feels; queen is what it actually is.
the refrain, after every stanza
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה, פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה.
L'cha dodi likrat kala, p'nei Shabbat n'kab'la.
Come, my beloved, to greet the bride; let us welcome the Shabbat.
turn to face the door for this stanza
בּוֹאִי בְשָׁלוֹם עֲטֶרֶת בַּעְלָהּ, גַּם בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְצָהֳלָה,
Bo'i v'shalom ateret ba'lah, gam b'simcha uv'tzoholah,
Come in peace, crown of her husband, both in joy and in gladness,
bow at bo'i chala
תּוֹךְ אֱמוּנֵי עַם סְגֻלָּה, בּוֹאִי כַלָּה, בּוֹאִי כַלָּה.
toch emunei am s'gula, bo'i chala, bo'i chala.
among the faithful of the treasured people. Come, bride; come, bride.

The Shabbat Amidah

How It WorksL3
Blessings 1, 2, 3 exactly as on a weekday. Then one middle blessing instead of thirteen. Then 17, 18, 19 as usual.
The middle blessing has a different text at each service:

Friday night: Atah kidashta, which includes Vayechulu.
Shabbat morning: Yismach Moshe.
Shabbat Mincha: Atah echad.
Musaf: Tikanta Shabbat.

All four end with the same closing line, which is below. Only Yismach Moshe is typed in full here so far.
the closing line of all four versions
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת.
Baruch atah Adonai, m'kadesh haShabbat.
Blessed are You, Lord, who sanctifies the Shabbat.
Yismach Moshe - ShacharitL3
The middle blessing of the Shabbat morning Amidah.
KavanahMoshe rejoiced in the gift of his portion. The midrash says he was offered a choice of what to be glad about, and he picked Shabbat.

He is described in the same line as a faithful servant. The thing the faithful servant wanted was the day off.
יִשְׂמַח מֹשֶׁה בְּמַתְּנַת חֶלְקוֹ, כִּי עֶבֶד נֶאֱמָן קָרָאתָ לּוֹ.
Yismach Moshe b'matnat chelko, ki eved ne'eman karata lo.
Moses rejoiced in the gift of his portion, for You called him a faithful servant.
כְּלִיל תִּפְאֶרֶת בְּרֹאשׁוֹ נָתַתָּ, בְּעָמְדוֹ לְפָנֶיךָ עַל הַר סִינַי.
K'lil tif'eret b'rosho natata, b'omdo l'faneicha al har Sinai.
You placed a crown of glory upon his head when he stood before You on Mount Sinai.
וּשְׁנֵי לוּחוֹת אֲבָנִים הוֹרִיד בְּיָדוֹ, וְכָתוּב בָּהֶם שְׁמִירַת שַׁבָּת, וְכֵן כָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ:
Ush'nei luchot avanim horid b'yado, v'chatuv bahem sh'mirat Shabbat, v'chen katuv b'toratecha:
He brought down two stone tablets in his hand, and on them was written the observance of Shabbat, and so it is written in Your Torah:
וְשָׁמְרוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת לְדֹרֹתָם בְּרִית עוֹלָם.
V'shamru v'nei Yisrael et haShabbat, la'asot et haShabbat l'dorotam b'rit olam.
The children of Israel shall keep the Shabbat, observing the Shabbat throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant.
בֵּינִי וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹת הִיא לְעוֹלָם, כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה יְיָ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שָׁבַת וַיִּנָּפַשׁ.
Beini uvein b'nei Yisrael ot hi l'olam, ki sheshet yamim asa Adonai et hashamayim v'et ha'aretz, uvayom hash'vi'i shavat vayinafash.
It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He ceased and rested.

Kiddush

Friday NightL1
Stand. Hold the cup in your right palm. Say Vayechulu first, then the blessings over wine and over Shabbat.
Say it over a full cup of wine or grape juice, at least a revi'it - about 3 ounces. Drink most of the cup yourself, then pass it.

The bread is covered until after Kiddush so that it is not shamed by being passed over.
KavanahVayechulu is legal testimony. You are giving evidence that the world was created, that it was finished, and that God stopped.

That is why you stand for it, and why saying it with someone else is better than saying it alone - testimony normally takes two witnesses.
say this quietly, then the rest aloud
וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר, יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי.
Vay'hi erev vay'hi voker, yom hashishi.
And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם.
Vay'chulu hashamayim v'ha'aretz v'chol tz'va'am.
The heavens and the earth and all their array were completed.
וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה.
Vay'chal Elohim bayom hash'vi'i m'lachto asher asa, vayishbot bayom hash'vi'i mikol m'lachto asher asa.
On the seventh day God finished the work He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all the work He had done.
וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ, כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת.
Vay'varech Elohim et yom hash'vi'i vay'kadesh oto, ki vo shavat mikol m'lachto asher bara Elohim la'asot.
God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, for on it He rested from all His work which God created to do.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, borei p'ri hagafen.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֺתָיו וְרָצָה בָנוּ, וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָנוּ, זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'ratza vanu, v'Shabbat kodsho b'ahava uv'ratzon hinchilanu, zikaron l'ma'aseh v'reishit.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and favored us, and gave us His holy Shabbat with love and favor as a heritage, a remembrance of the work of creation.
כִּי הוּא יוֹם תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ, זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם.
Ki hu yom t'chila l'mikra'ei kodesh, zecher litzi'at Mitzrayim.
For it is the first of the holy convocations, a remembrance of the exodus from Egypt.
כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ וְאוֹתָנוּ קִדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים, וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשְׁךָ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּנוּ.
Ki vanu vacharta v'otanu kidashta mikol ha'amim, v'Shabbat kodsh'cha b'ahava uv'ratzon hinchaltanu.
For You chose us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and gave us Your holy Shabbat with love and favor as a heritage.
drink most of the cup
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת.
Baruch atah Adonai, m'kadesh haShabbat.
Blessed are You, Lord, who sanctifies the Shabbat.
Shabbat DayL2
Much shorter. Said before the daytime meal.
The daytime Kiddush is rabbinic rather than from the Torah, which is why it is brief. Some say only the blessing over wine.
וְשָׁמְרוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת לְדֹרֹתָם בְּרִית עוֹלָם.
V'shamru v'nei Yisrael et haShabbat, la'asot et haShabbat l'dorotam b'rit olam.
The children of Israel shall keep the Shabbat, observing it throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant.
זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ. שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל מְלַאכְתֶּךָ.
Zachor et yom haShabbat l'kad'sho. Sheshet yamim ta'avod v'asita kol m'lachtecha.
Remember the Shabbat day to sanctify it. Six days you shall labor and do all your work.
וְיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לַיְיָ אֱלֹהֶיךָ, לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה כָל מְלָאכָה.
V'yom hash'vi'i Shabbat LaShem elohecha, lo ta'aseh chol m'lacha.
But the seventh day is a Shabbat to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work.
כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה יְיָ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ, אֶת הַיָּם וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר בָּם, וַיָּנַח בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, עַל כֵּן בֵּרַךְ יְיָ אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ.
Ki sheshet yamim asa Adonai et hashamayim v'et ha'aretz, et hayam v'et kol asher bam, vayanach bayom hash'vi'i, al ken berach Adonai et yom haShabbat vay'kad'shehu.
For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Shabbat day and sanctified it.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, borei p'ri hagafen.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Havdalah

HavdalahL2
Saturday night, after nightfall. Wine, spices, and a multi-wicked candle.
Order: wine, then spices, then the flame, then the blessing that separates. Hold the cup in your right hand for the first blessing, then swap so you can hold the spices.

Look at your fingernails by the light of the candle before the last blessing. Pour a little wine into the dish at the end and put the candle out in it.

Say Baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol before this if you need to do anything before making Havdalah properly.
KavanahThe spices are there because a person is said to lose something when Shabbat leaves, and the smell is a consolation.

The last blessing lists four separations: holy from ordinary, light from dark, Israel from the nations, the seventh day from the six. The week is not being ruined, it is being distinguished.
hold the cup in your right hand; do not drink yet
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, borei p'ri hagafen.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
smell the spices after this
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, borei minei v'samim.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates varieties of fragrance.
look at your fingernails by the flame
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, borei m'orei ha'esh.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the lights of fire.
drink the wine, then put out the candle in the spilled wine
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחֹל, בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹשֶׁךְ, בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַמִּים, בֵּין יוֹם הַשְׁבִיעִי לְשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחֹל.
Baruch atah Adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol, bein or l'choshech, bein Yisrael la'amim, bein yom hash'vi'i l'sheshet y'mei hama'aseh. Baruch atah Adonai, hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who separates between holy and ordinary, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Blessed are You, Lord, who separates between holy and ordinary.

Not Yet Here

What Is Still MissingL5
Kabbalat Shabbat's six psalms and the middle stanzas of Lecha Dodi. The Friday night, Mincha and Musaf versions of the middle Amidah blessing. The full Musaf service. Shalom Aleichem, Eshet Chayil, Havdalah, and the Shabbat additions to Pesukei DeZimrah.
Everything on this page is complete and correct as far as it goes. Use your siddur for the rest, and this will fill in.