Shabbat Seder

Yesterday evening many of our Edot families gathered in the Adult Lounge (just over 100 people in all!), to welcome Shabbat. In Hebrew, this is referred to as "kabbalat shabbat" (literally, "the receiving of Shabbat"), and is also referred to as a Shabbat seder, since rituals are involved before and after the Shabbat meal itself.

Edot students had been studying about the laws and rituals relating to Shabbat, as well as the "language" of Shabbat (see previous posts for more details about what we learned). We also studied the early history of Ashkenazi Jewry and the beginnings of its Yiddish language and culture.

Now the students had a chance, with the help of other family members, to model rituals developed over many centuries to welcome Shabbat, as well as share what they had learned about Ashkenazi Jewry (with an emphasis on the eastern European Jews). Many of the rituals involved customs developed in eastern Europe, including singing Yiddish songs and acting out a story from the Talmud about "Yosef Mokir Shabbos" (Joseph Who Valued Shabbat).

The Shabbat Meal, which we enjoyed at the very end of the seder, consisted of eastern European recipes prepared by the families. There was plenty of food and thumbs up ratings for all of it (considering most people took second and even third helpings!).

Below are some photos I managed to take during the rituals and meal. More photos are always welcome!

The Introduction - Jack , Alex and Lauren share the meaning of Shabbat and recount what was created each day of Creation

Jennavive pointed to each poster as the day of Creation it depicted was being described by the students

Ari and Kyra share how we prepare for Shabbat

The Adri and Segol Families share the origin and meaning of the candle lighting ritual

Seth, Matthew and Zoe share the origin of the Shalom Aleichem song we sing, praising God

The Benenson and Corritone Families share the origin of the Family Blessing part of the seder

The Persin and Zaritsky Families share the origins of the Kiddush ritual - the Blessing over the Wine

The Heffan and Moss Families share the origin of the Washing of Hands ritual

The Paykel and Schell Families share the origin of the Ha'Motzi ritual- the Blessing over the Bread

Camille, Jennavive, Gabby, Jake and Seth share the early history of Ashkenazi Jewry and introduce the two Yiddish songs we sang - "Shabbos, Shabbos, Shabbos" and "L'Cho Dodi"

 S'iz a groysse perl in a groysse fish! (It's a big pearl in a big fish!) Joseph who valued Shabbat is rewarded.

Enjoying the Russian style or Polish style chicken soup (or maybe both!) and non-dairy savory kugel... ...as well as the non-dairy sweet kugel, roasted chicken, gefilte fish, carrot tzimmes, vegetarian cholent, poppy seed cookies and mandelbrot (minus the mandel in our nut-free school!), with a mixed green salad thrown in for good measure.

A very big thanks goes to Joel who came to help lead us in the chanting of blessings and singing of the two Yiddish songs, in spite of being severely "frog-in-the-throat" challenged; and to Rabbi Miller who joined us with Leo in arms to help lead us in singing Shalom Aleichem.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED TO MAKE THE EVENT SO SUCCESSFUL!