Candles

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At the beginning of Shabbat, candles are lit by the woman of the household. They are lit before Shabbat begins, at least 18 minutes before sunset. She lights two candles, passes her hands over the candles a few times, then covers her eyes and recites this blessing. After the blessing is complete, she uncovers her eyes and looks at the lit candles as if for the first time.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe

asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us

l'had'lik neir shel Shabbat. (Amein) to light the lights of Shabbat. (Amen)

Kiddush

Kiddush is recited while holding a cup of wine or other beverage, no less than 3.3 ounces. If wine or grape juice is not used, you should substitute shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (by whose will all things come to be) for borei p'ri hagafen (who creates the fruit of the vine). The wine or other beverage is held in the right hand while standing when reciting the blessing. Drink the wine after the blessing is complete.

Vay'hi erev vay'hi voker yom hashishi And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day

vay'khulu hashamayim v'ha'aretz v'khol tz'va'am The heavens and the earth were finished, the whole host of them

vay'khal elohim bayom hash'vi'i m'la'kh'to asher asah And on the seventh day God completed his work that he had done

vayish'bot bayom hash'vi'i mikol m'la'kh'to asher asah and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done

Vay'varekh Elohim et yom hash'vi'i vay'kadeish oto And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it

ki vo shavat mikol m'la'kh'to asher bara Elohim la'asot because in it he had rested from all his work that God had created to do

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe

(if using wine or grape juice) borei p'ri hagafen (Amein) Who creates the fruit of the vine (Amen)

(if using other liquids) shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (Amein) Who made all things exist through His word (Amen)

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe

asher kid'shanu b'mitz'votav v'ratzah vanu who sanctifies us with his commandments, and has been pleased with us

v'shabat kad'sho b'ahavah uv'ratzon hin'chilanu zikaron l'ma'aseih v'rei'shit You have lovingly and willingly given us Your holy Shabbat as an inheritance, in memory of creation

ki hu yom t'chilah l'mik'ra'ei kodesh zeikher litzi'at Mitz'rayim because it is the first day of our holy assemblies, in memory of the exodus from Egypt

ki vanu vachar'ta v'otanu kidash'ta mikol ha'amim because You have chosen us and made us holy from all peoples

v'shabat kad'sh'kha b'ahavah uv'ratzon hin'chal'tanu and have willingly and lovingly given us Your holy Shabbat for an inheritance

Barukh atah Adonai m'kadeish hashabat (Amein). Blessed are You, who sanctifies Shabbat (Amen)

Netilat Yadayim: Washing Hands

After Kiddush and before the meal, each person in the household should wash hands by filling a cup with water and pouring it over the top and bottom of the right hand and then the left hand. Before wiping the hands dry on a towel, the following blessing should be recited.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe

asher kidishanu b'mitz'votav v'tzivanu Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us

al n'tilat yadayim. concerning washing of hands.

Why is there no "Amen" at the end of this blessing? With the other blessings on this page, a leader says the blessing on behalf of everyone, and the others say "Amen," accepting the leader's blessing as their own. With n'tilat yadayim, each person washes their own hands, and each person says their own blessing. You don't say "Amen" to your own blessing, and everybody says their own n'tilat yadayim, so there is no need to accept another person's blessing!

Ha-Motzi: Bread

Immediately after washing hands and before eating, the head of the household removes the cover from the two challah loaves, lifting them while reciting the following blessing. The challah is then ripped into pieces or sliced and passed around the table, so that each person may have a piece. The family meal may then begin.

Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha-olam Blessed are You, Lord, our God, King of the Universe

hamotzi lechem min ha'aretz. (Amein). who brings forth bread from the earth. (Amen)

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