Friday Night Shabbat Traditions, Explained

Shabbat is the Jewish day of rest. The Jewish calendar is lunar, meaning that days begin at sundown. So the day known as Shabbat is actually observed from Friday at sundown until Saturday night.

There are several mitzvot (commandments) that guide the basic observances of Shabbat on a Friday night: candle lighting, praying, making Kiddush, saying hamotzi, and eating Shabbat dinner followed by reciting grace after meals. There are plenty of other traditions that vary by family, community and local custom that are also incorporated into Shabbat celebrations, but many Jews of all observance levels and backgrounds worldwide will partake in those five rituals on Friday night to mark Shabbat.

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The first ritual performed on Friday night is the lighting of the Shabbat candles, which should traditionally be done no less than 18 minutes before sundown begins. Women traditionally light Shabbat candles in a home, although a man is obligated to if a woman is not lighting for him, according to Orthodox rabbis. In homes with children, the mother will often light one candle for each child, in addition to the two candles normally lit for Shabbat.

The practice is not mentioned anywhere in the Torah, so it is unclear exactly when the Jewish people began lighting Shabbat candles. The most common theory is that communities and families would light a fire just before Shabbat began, as kindling a fire on Shabbat is prohibited by Jewish law, meaning that over time, lighting candles became incorporated as a ritual to welcome in Shabbat. The earliest recording of the blessing recited over the candles is from the 9th century.

Similarly, the origin of why we light two candles is not clear. Some say it represents the duality of Shabbat, as the Jewish people were commanded to both remember and keep Shabbat. Others say two candles are lit because they are more important and special than one.

Be prepared for candle-lighting every week with our beautiful shabbat candlesticks and hand-crafted candles from the Land of Israel!

And learn more about Jewish candle-lighting traditions and history with our “Why Do Jews Light Candles?” blog post here.

After lighting Shabbat candles at home, it is common to head to synagogue or wherever the local minyan meets for Friday night prayers. Many Friday night services begin with Mincha, followed by Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv.

Kabbalat Shabbat is only said on Friday nights. It is a special collection of songs and prayers, including Yedid Nefesh, L’Cha Dodi, and several Psalms. Kabbalat Shabbat as a ritual dates back to the 16th century; the songs and prayers were originally composed by Kabbalists in the Land of Israel, particularly in the holy city of Tzfat (Safed). Many of the songs have mystical elements and compare Shabbat to a beautiful bride.

While most of the Kabbalat Shabbat portion of Friday night prayers is standardized across communities, there are a few passages that may be omitted by some communities, as well as a variety of different tunes and melodies that can be used for the various Kabbalat Shabbat songs.

The festive Kabbalat Shabbat service is followed by the Maariv evening service. While religious Jews say Maariv during the rest of the week as well, the Friday night version includes a few differences and additions, such as the recitation of “VeShamru.”

Follow along with Friday night prayers with your very own Shabbat prayer book!

Once prayers are finished, many people go to wherever they are eating Friday night dinner. It is traditional to get together with friends and family for Shabbat dinner, so it’s not always a given that someone will be eating in their own home. Before the meal begins, it is customary to sing Shalom Aleichem. Some families will also recite the blessing over the children at this point, or will sing Eshet Chayil. These are all customs, however, and are not mandated by Jewish law according to most rabbis… but always check with your own trusted rabbi when in doubt!

These customs are followed by Kiddush, or the blessing over the wine. Grape juice can also be used. The Hebrew word Kiddush literally means sanctification, and the reason we do this ritual is to sanctify Shabbat — a commandment that comes straight from the Torah (specifically the commandment to “remember” Shabbat). Kiddush is often said while standing, since it begins with a recitation of a passage from Genesis, though some families may have a custom to sit.

Like so many traditions in Judaism, there isn’t one universally agreed upon reason as to why wine or grape juice must be used to do Kiddush on Friday night. This became codified as law by the Sages of the Talmud between 150 and 500 C.E. Some believe that wine is used because of other passages in the Tanakh that say wine gladdens man and God, while others say that wine is used because Shabbat is understood to be like a bride, and wine is used to celebrate weddings.

Learn all the Shabbat songs, the Kiddush blessing, and the Grace after meals prayers with a convenient Birkon (Bencher) prayer book from famous Israeli religious publisher Koren!

And don’t forget to add a touch of the Land of Israel to your Kiddush with a traditional Kiddush cup from one of Israel’s top designers and Israeli-made kosher wine.

Following the reciting of Kiddush, many will go wash their hands and then return to the table for Hamotzi. While the Hamotzi blessing is recited by observant Jews before they eat any bread, many Jews will say Hamotzi on Friday night even if they don’t during the rest of the week. Jewish law is very clear that Hamotzi must be recited over bread and specific grains, including wheat. Challah, a braided bread traditionally made from eggs, has become synonymous with Shabbat as it is often used to fulfill the mitzvah of reciting Hamotzi on Friday night.

Two loaves (or pieces/rolls/etc.) are needed to say Hamotzi on Shabbat. The origin of this is in the Torah, because when the Israelites wandered in the desert post-Exodus, they were commanded by God to bring in a double portion of manna (bread) before Shabbat.

It’s considered important to say Hamotzi before eating the Shabbat meal, because reciting Hamotzi is what distinguishes a snack from a meal, and Jewish law dictates that a meal must be eaten on Friday night.

After Hamotzi is recited, it’s time for dinner!

Beautify your shabbat dinner rituals with a gorgeous handwashing cup, challah cover, and challah board, all lovingly crafted in Israel!

Other than being an opportunity to experience spiritual reawakening and rejuvenation, Shabbat is also about experiencing the true joy of Shabbat, known as Oneg Shabbat. According to the Chassidic leader Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, our main source of this joy comes from the food we eat on Shabbat. He explains that by preparing special delicacies and fine dishes, we bring honor to the Shabbat, and doing this infuses the food with a unique holiness similar to the holiness of God. For this reason, Rabbi Nachman says that one must make sure he has plenty of food on Shabbat since partaking in the Shabbat meals is enough to make up for desecrating the Shabbat in the past.

In addition to its spiritual meaning, Shabbat dinner is also considered one of the commandments or mitzvot that must be fulfilled during Shabbat, as the Jewish people are commanded to eat three meals over Shabbat, including dinner on Friday night.

The foods served on Shabbat usually vary from family to family; however, most traditional Shabbat meals typically consist of an assortment of side dishes and appetizers like salads, fish, and soups, and elaborate main courses made from meat or chicken, accompanied by rice, vegetables, and other hearty dishes.

Make every Friday night dinner a truly festive occasion with a beautiful tablecloth or table runner and intricately decorated serving dishes and other tableware!

Unsure what to serve at your shabbat meal? Shop our selection of kosher Israeli foods and wines, and check out our Jewish & Israeli Food blog category for recipes and fun food facts!