Congregation Shema Yisraelerev shabbat

Erev Shabbat Blessings

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Location, Dates, and Times of Shabbat Services

Erev Shabbat is the beginning of the most holy day of the week. Traditionally, it begins on Friday at sundown and it is celebrated in both the synagogue and afterwards, in the home. This set of blessings illustrates how you can welcome the Shabbat into your families and homes.

All of these blessings can be found in the Complete Artscroll Siddur (Sefard). Page numbers are indicated with each blessing listed on this page.

Lighting of the Candles

Artscroll Siddur (Sefard) page 327

Although there is no commandment in the Bible stating that candles must be ignited to open the Shabbat, this is a beautiful reminder that we are to be a light to the world and that the Torah is "a light unto our feet and a lamp unto our path". The blessing is usually said by a woman (typically but not always the eldest female in the household).

Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, Asher Kidshanu Bemitzvotav, Vitzivanu Lehadlik Ner Shell Shabbat

Blessed are You O' L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of Shabbat.

Opening Erev Shabbat Prayer

Artscroll Siddur (Sefard) page 327

Immediately after the lighting of the Shabbat candles, the following is recited by a woman. The words in the brackets [ ] are said as they apply.

May it be Your will HaShem, my G-d and G-d of my forefathers, that You show favor to me, [my husband, my sons, my daughters, my father, my mother, my grandchildren] and all my relatives and that you grant us and all Israel a good and long life; that you remember us with a beneficient memory and blessing; that You consider us with a consideration of salvation and compassion; that You bless us with great blessings; that You make our households complete; that You cause Your Presence to dwell among us. Privilege me to raise children and grandchildren who are wise and understanding, who love HaShem and fear G-d, people of truth, holy offspring attached to HaShem, who illuminate the world with Torah and good deeds and with every deed in the service of the Creator. Please hear my supplications at this time, in the merit of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, our mothers, and cause our light to illuminiate the world, and that it not be extinguished forever, and let Your countenance shine so that we are saved. Ah-mein.

Birkat Habanim - Blessing over the Children

Artscroll Siddur (Sefard) page 385

It is traditional on Erev Shabbat for parents to say a blessing over their sons and daughters. This blessing is applied to children under bar or bat mitzvah age and is a wonderful way of expressing the love and care that both earthly parents and the Heavenly Father have for these young ones.

For the sons: Yesimcha Elohim Ke Ephrayim Vechi Menashe.
May G-d make you like Ephraim and Menashe.

For the daughters: Yesimech Elohim Ke Sarah Rivka Rachel Ve Leah.
May G-d make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.

For all: Yevarechecha Adonai Veyeeshmerecha!
Yaer Adonai Panav Eleycha Veechoonecha!
Yeesa Adonai Panav Eleycha Veyasem Lecha Shalom!

May Adonai bless you and keep you!
May Adonai show favor to you and be kind to you!
May Adonai turn His face towards you and establish peace for you!

Eshet Chayil - A Woman of Valor

Artscroll Siddur (Sefard) pages 389-391

This blessing is traditionally said over the wife by her husband on Erev Shabbat after the blessing of the children and right before the Erev Shabbat Kiddush. The source for Eshet Chayil is a twenty-two verse poem with which King Solomon concludes the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 31).

Eshet chayil mi yimtza v'rachok mip'ninim michrah
An accomplished woman, who can find? Her value is far beyond rubies.

Batach bah lev ba'lah v'shalal lo yechsar
Her husband's heart relies on her and he shall lack no fortune.

G'malathu tov v'lo ra kol y'mei chayeiha
She does him good and not evil, all the days of her life.

Darshah tzemer ufishtim vata'as b'chefetz kapeiha
She seeks wool and flax, and works with her hands willingly.

Haitah ko'oniyot socher mimerchak tavi lachmah
She is like the merchant ships, she brings her bread from afar.

Vatakom b'od lailah vatiten teref l'vetah v'chok l'na'aroteiha
She arises while it is still night, and gives food to her household and a portion to her maidservants.

Zam'mah sadeh vatikachehu mip'ri chapeiha nat'ah karem
She plans for a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

Chagrah v'oz motneiha vat'ametz zro'oteiha
She girds her loins in strength, and makes her arms strong.

Ta'amah ki tov sachrah lo yichbeh balailah nerah
She knows that her merchandise is good. Her candle does not go out at night.

Yadeha shilchah vakishor v'chapeiha tamchu felech
She sets her hands to the distaff, and holds the spindle in her hands.

Kapah parsah le'ani v'yadeiha shil'chah la'evyon
She extends her hands to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.

Lo tira l'vetah mishaleg ki chol betah lavush shanim
She fears not for her household because of snow, because her whole household is warmly dressed.

Marvadim astah lah shesh v'argaman l'vushah
She makes covers for herself, her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Noda bash'arim ba'lah b'shivto im ziknei aretz
Her husband is known at the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.

Sadin astah vatimkor vachagor natnah lak'na'ani
She makes a cloak and sells it, and she delivers aprons to the merchant.

Oz v'hadar l'vushah vatischak l'yom acharon
Strength and honor are her clothing, she smiles at the future.

Piha patchah v'chochma v'torat chesed al l'shonah
She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the lesson of kindness is on her tongue.

Tzofi'ah halichot betah v'lechem atzlut lo tochel
She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Kamu vaneha vay'ash'ruha ba'lah vay'hal'lah
Her children rise and praise her, her husband lauds her.

Rabot banot asu chayil v'at alit al kulanah
Many women have done worthily, but you surpass them all.

Sheker hachen v'hevel hayofi ishah yir'at Hashem hi tit'halal
Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears G-d shall be praised.

T'nu lah mip'ri yadeiha vihal'luha vash'arim ma'aseha
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Erev Shabbat Kiddush

Artscroll Siddur (Sefard) page 395

Before any meal, it is tradition to say a blessing over the wine (or any other "fruit of the vine") and over the bread. On Erev Shabbat, the Kiddush before the evening meal is slightly different. There is no tradition as to who may lead the kiddush but it is usually the head of household.

The sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their array. On the seventh day G-d completed His work which He had done, and He abstained on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. G-d blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it He abstained from all His work which G-d created to make.

Blessed are You O L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments, took pleasure in us, and with love and favor gave us His Holy Shabbat as a heritage, a rememberance of creation. For that day is the prologue to the holy convocations, a memorial of the Exodus from Egypt. For us did You choose and us did You sanctify from all the nations. And Your Holy Shabbat, with love and favor did You give us as a heritage. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who sanctifies the Shabbat. Ah-mein.

Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheynu Melech HaOlam, Boreh Pri Hagafen. Ah-mein.

Blessed are you O L-rd Our G-d, King of the universe, who gave us fruit of the vine.

Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheynu Melech HaOlam, Hamotzi Lechem Meen Haaretz. Ah-mein.

Blessed are you O L-rd Our G-d, King of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.

At this time, the family partakes of the Shabbat Eve meal.

Grace After Meals

Artscroll Siddur (Sefard) pages 201-213 (full version)

We are commanded to eat and be satisfied and to bless the L-rd our G-d for the good land which He gave us (Deut 8:10). You can recite the full version of this blessing on the pages referenced above or use the abbreviated version presented on this page. Notice that the entire blessing is said by all who have eaten except where a passage is set apart by the notation "Leader". When you see that notation, the passage is only said by whoever is leading the blessing.

Psalm 126: A song of ascents. When HaShem will return our captivity to Zion, we will be like dreamers. Then our mouths will be filled with laughter and our tongue with glad song. Then they will declare among the nations, "HaShem has done greatly with these." HaShem has done greatly with us, we were gladdened, O HaShem - return our captivity like springs in the desert. Those who tearfully sow will reap in glad song. He who bears the measure of seeds walks along weeping, but will return in exultation, a bearer of sheaves.

Blessed are You O' L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who nourishes the entire world in His goodness - with grace, with kindness, and with mercy. He gives nourishment to all flesh, for His kindness is eternal. And through His great goodness, we have never lacked, and may we never lack, nourishment for all eternity. For the sake of His Great Name, because He is G-d Who nourishes and sustains all, and benefits all, and He prepares food for all of His creatures which He has created. And it is said: "You open Your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing." Leader: Blessed are You, HaShem, Who nourishes all. Ah-mein.

Come My Beloved

Artscroll Siddur (Sefard) pages 351-353

The Shabbat is often thought of in tradition as a bride approaching her wedding day. We greet her with great joy as we prepare for the "wedding" celebration. The coming of the Shabbat is a foreshadowing of the coming of the Messiah, when we will enter His eternal rest. This is specifically expressed in the references "son of Jesse" and "the man descended from Peretz", both of which point directly to the Messiah. In the synagogue, this is usually a responsive reading but in the home, it can be said as follows.

Come my Beloved to greet the bride
The Shabbat presence, let us welcome!

Safeguard and Remember - in a single utterance
The One and Only G-d made us hear.
HaShem is One and His Name is One,
For renoun, for splendor, and for praise.

To welcome the Shabbat, come let us go,
For it is the source of blessing;
From the beginning, from antiquity she was honored,
Last in deed, but first in thought.

O Sanctuary of the King, Royal City
Arise and depart from amid the upheaval,
Too long have you dwelled in the valley of weeping.
He will shower compassion upon you.

Shake off the dust - arise!
Don your splendid clothes, My people,
Through the son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite!
Draw near to my soul - redeem it!

Wake up! Wake up!
For your light has come, rise up and shine;
Awaken! Awaken! Utter a song,
The glory of Hashem is revealed to you.

Feel not ashamed, be not humiliated,
Why are you downcast? Why are you disconsolate?
In you will My people's afflicted find shelter
As the City is built upon its hilltop.

May your oppressors be downtrodden,
And may those who devoured you be cast far off.
Your G-d will rejoice over you
Like a groom's rejoicing over his bride.

Rightward and leftward, you shall spread out mightily,
And you shall extol the might of HaShem,
Through the man descended from Peretz,
Then we shall be glad and mirthful.

Enter in peace, O crown of her husband,
Even in joyous song and good cheer,
Among the faithful of the treasured nation
Enter, O bride, the Shabbat Queen.

Please keep in mind that this is just an introduction to the celebration of Erev Shabbat. There are so many more songs and blessings you can use to honor the coming of the most Holy day of the week; a day totally devoted to our rest in Messiah Yeshua, the L-rd of the Shabbat. The main point of this teaching is to learn to take time out from our weekly chores, let go of the burdens of the rest of the week, and enter into a Shabbat's rest, where our hearts and lives are devoted to the One who rested from all His works on the Seventh day. Shabbat Blessings and Shalom.

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