the sun set long ago.
we light the candles anyway.
I say Kiddush, let the words wrap
around our tiny dining room, the same words
that have wrapped around a million dining rooms
and dorm rooms
and sanctuaries
and hovels
for centuries.
I ask my partner
(goyische, bashert, beloved)
"what was the best part of your week"
as we sit down to Shabbos dinner
of takeout.
"choir rehearsal at synagogue,"
they reply,
and my heart swells.
I grab my phone
to wish a slew of friends
"good Shabbos! may you get the rest you need!"
in the morning, I will wrap myself
in a tallis of silk I chose
not one I was given
and daven to the music of an acoustic guitar.
some will say
that I have not kept Shabbat.
but I have remembered.
and I say
Just wanted to share a little resource today: Shabbat cards from Recustom, a platform with tools and resources to help shape rituals that work for each of us. I like this very simple set of Shabbat cards, with the blessings in Hebrew, English, and transliterated.
Sometimes it can be really difficult, trying to figure out what we think makes our life Jewish -- what's important to us, what rituals are prayers feel necessary to us, which mitzvot feel most important to keep. It's a deeply personal journey.
For me, Shabbat feels immensely important and is the cornerstone of what having a Jewish home means to me. Keeping Shabbat started very small -- just remembering to light two tealights, as on time as possible, every Friday with my partner. Now we've added wine/juice, and rarely I remember to have bread. It's a work in progress. Little tools like these cards, which are easy to read and have on hand, can help make keeping this ritual possible.
I wish I were a more adept woman that was used to managing a million things, but I'm not -- I am forgetful, I can be a little lazy after a long work day, and I struggle with the balance between my spiritual and modern lives. And that's okay.
have any of you heard the christian version of shabbat prayers? crazzyyy
but seriously, it makes me super uncomfortable 😭 like whats the point of doing some jewish traditions (even when they change the meaning). everyone i’ve seen also kind of picks and chooses what tradition they follow??
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This Shabbat we lit 21 candles in honour of International Women's Day: 19 purple candles for the 19 women still held captive by Hamas, and two yellow candles. Bring Them Home Now.