When do orthodox jews celebrate the sabbath

The Rabbis considered this to include everything that pertains to the kindling of light, even if no actual work is involved. In modern times, there is a controversy regarding whether the switching on of electric lights and appliances is equivalent to making a fire. There are two reasons to think that switching on an electric light may not be considered kindling. First, switching on a light does not create electric power; the power exists already.

Second, there is no combustion in the filament of an electric light. Nevertheless, Orthodox Jews do not use electric appliances on the Sabbath, believing that the prohibition against kindling a fire was not based on the physical effort involved in rubbing two stones together to produce a spark but rather on the thought and planning that resulted in its generation.

An exception is the refrigerator, which may be opened and closed because any electric current that this produces is incidental and without conscious intent. However, many observant Jews unscrew the refrigerator bulb for the Sabbath. Lights that have been kindled before the Sabbath, such as the Sabbath candles, are allowed, as are an oven for keeping previously cooked food warm and a burner to keep water warm for coffee or tea. Similarly, it is permitted to leave an electric appliance running during the Sabbath and to use a timer to automatically turn an appliance on or off, as long as the timer is set before the Sabbath begins.

One mechanism to ease the difficulty of complying with the prohibition against work on the Sabbath was the concept of the Shabbos goy — a non-Jew hired by an observant family to perform certain activities forbidden to Jews on the Sabbath, such as starting a fire and turning lights on and off.

However, the proliferation of electronic timers has virtually eliminated the need for the Shabbos goy. The rabbis of antiquity used prohibitions to shape a Shabbat experience in which creative activity is set aside to make time for matters of the spirit.

Many people are familiar with the idea of families and friends coming together for Shabbat dinners on Friday nights. People also gather for lunch on Shabbat after synagogue. Like a dinner party that happens in the middle of the day, these meals are long and luxurious with good food cholent is a Shabbat afternoon tradition, but anything that can be reheated reasonably well will work and wine. Because Shabbat precludes work, no one is rushing to finish the meal to get to an assignment or activity.

Before birkat hamazon , or grace after meals, many people will sing a few traditional songs for Shabbat, or zemirot. After lunch, many people are ready for a nap. One of the great luxuries of the observant lifestyle is getting accustomed to a nice long nap on Shabbat afternoons.

The rejuvenating powers of this nap cannot be overstated. Others prefer to go on long Shabbat walks, by themselves or with friends. Also on the table will be two loaves of challah bread to represent the food God provided for the Jews when they were walking through the desert in flight from Egypt.

On Friday evening the Shabbat is welcomed with the lighting of the two candles. Traditionally, the mother of the family places her hands over her eyes and recites a blessing to welcome Shabbat. The family may visit the synagogue. Depending on the time of the service, this could be before their meal or after. They eat a meal together as a family on Friday evening. Before any food is eaten, blessings are said for the children, and kiddush is said over the wine to make Shabbat holy.

Drinking wine on Shabbat shows that this is a joyful, celebratory time. The bread challah is blessed and everyone takes a piece. Typically, the meal lasts for a few hours with everyone enjoying family time, often singing songs and telling religious stories. On Saturday, after visiting the synagogue, the family shares another meal. The afternoon is spent studying the Torah and playing games as a family. On Friday evening, prayers are said at the synagogue. In Orthodox synagogues, these prayers happen at sunset, whereas in Reform synagogues they happen at a set time.