Shabbos is Coming

This week 2 December 2011 and next week 9 December 2011, candle lighting in Jerusalem for Shabbat will be the earliest it gets during winter time. This will be 15h55 or 3.55 p.m. From the 16th of December the candle lighting time begins to gradually go later, beginning with 15h57 or 3.57 p.m. Please note these times are according to Chabad.org. For those who prefer to follow the times set out in Devar Be'Ito, this week and next will be 16h00 or 4 pm instead of 5 minutes earlier as Chabad.org states.

If you light earlier, let it be a blessing but make sure not to light earlier than Plug HaMinchah which for Jerusalem this week will be 15h36 or 3.36 p.m. 

Please check your calendar to make absoutely sure or ask your local Orthodox Rabbi to clarrify the correct candle lighting time.

Please note, times for Tel Aviv, Haifa and elsewhere are not the same as for Jerusalem even though we are in a small country.

Enjoy the shorter Fridays if you do. Keep warm and keep up your Tefillos for rain. We still have a few months of winter and the Kineret is no where near the level of water that is needed.

Have a wonderful day

Shoshanah

Israel, the Kineret and more

It is Thursday, time to begin preparing for Shabbos again. The weather has been just gloroius or has it?

Soft sunshine, wispy clouds, beautiful sunrises and sunsets. But this time of year our thoughts are not of sunshine, not in Eretz Yisrael anyway. Our thoughts are of the need for rain and to fill the Kineret.

Recent reports state that the level of the Kineret is either -213.645m or -213.65m. It is 26 cm higher than it was this time last year, but we have a long way to go.

We don't want to wait till the end of winter for a sunden downpour that is more like floods and removes valuable top soil. We need a gradual, steady, gentle rain that fills the Kineret and all other water supplies to our precious land.

So keep on Davening, keep up the Mitzvos. May we be blessed this year with ALL the rain we need in the proper time.

Shabbat Shalom

Good Shabbos or Shabbat Shalom, How to Wish A Fellow Jew.

From time to time we take a look at what brings others to our blog. What are you the reader looking for, searching for? What will help your Aliyah and Klita to be more successful.

A common phrase looked for in various variations has to do with Shabbat Shalom, Good Shabbos or how to wish a fellow Jew for Shabbat. Here are a few answers we hope will satisfy you. If you still have questions, please post a comment, we love feedback and are always happy to answer questions or to post an article to help find answers to your questions. 

Shabbat is the seventh day of the week. According to the Torah, G-d created the world, universe and everything that is in 6 days and on the seventh day He rested. He gave a commandment to Jews to rest on this day too. 

Shabbat is this seventh day and it is Hebrew. Shabbos is the way that Ashkenazi Jews pronounce the Hebrew word Shabbat, following a certain rule to pronounce the final letter as a 's' sound rather than a 't'. Those who speak Yiddish call the day Shabbos too. 

Shalom means hello or peace or complete from the Hebrew word Shaleim, complete. Hence a common greating is Shabbat Shalom, may your Shabbat be peaceful and complete.

Good Shabbos probably comes from the Yiddish greeting which would be "Gut Shabbos". Wishing the other that their Shabbat day be good.

To answer the question as to how to greet a Jew for Shabbat. In terms of words used, Shabbat Shalom, Good Shabbos, Gut Shabbos, A Gutten Shabbos are all appropriate greetings. In terms of the how, it is best to greet a Jew with a smile and happy countenance always and Shabbat is no exception. 

For those wanting to know how this is written in Hebrew, Shabbat is שבת
Shalom is שלום
And together you get Shabbat Shalom or שבת שלום

Good Shabbos - Shabbat Shalom

When one lives outside of Israel, we often hear statements / questions like -
"When is it Friday?"
" Is it Friday yet?"
"How long till the weekend?"
"TGIF - or Thank G-d it's Friday!"

Of course, these questions and statements are all related to longing for the 2 day weekend to enjoy doing what you want to do. Whether it is a braai / barbeque; or a hike or a camping trip or a visit to the movies or...... the list is endless but the meaning is the same. I don't want to be here working, I want to do what I want to do. I want time to enjoy my friends, family, nature, other interests.

Of course, in recent times, there are actually jobs that take place in weekend hours, crafters who sell at craft markets, those who work in shops or stores, some take work home for the weekend to either catch up or prepare. But the concept is there are 2 days for ... "me!"

In amongst these comments and questions, there are times you might hear "Shabbat Shalom!" but often that might be a sign of your level of observance of Shabbat. Certainly there will be a select few people who you feel comfortable enough to wish "Good Shabbos or Shabbat Shalom" and one often expects to only hear it when attending Shul or Synagogue.

In Israel, the week is very different and there is something very special about this. In Israel, preparation for the end of the week begins already on Tuesday or Wednesday and the preparation is all towards 1 day - Shabbat.

On a Thursday afternoon and into the evening, shops or stores become busy with Shabbos Shoppers and there is a definite change in certain items one can find. There are even certain stores specifically open on Fridays only for all your Shabbat needs from Challah to cakes, chocolates and other tasty treats for this special day.

On Friday's, those who frequent the Shook or market, will find a hub and buzz as shoppers hurriedly purchase the last minute items for their Shabbat guests and family.

One fact that is particularly special is the greeting. No longer is it have a good weekend but Good Shabbos! or Shabbat Shalom! This can come from a taxi driver, bus driver, bank clerk, someone in the post office, a Jew dressed in a manner that let's you know s/he is observant of Torah and mitzvos or a Jew who is dressed in a casual fashion with or without a head covering. It can come even from those you would never dream even know the concept of Shabbat.

It is a very special feeling to be free to greet one another as every Jew should, with Good Shabbos or Shabbat Shalom! It is very special to have one's naming of the days of the week, all related to this one day, and an important reminder that this day is not for "me" but for "G-d and me" together. It is an opportunity to remember what it is to be a Jew. To put aside time to remember our Creator and to spend time either with one's immediate family, with guests, with both of these and / or with reading books that give us inspiration and joy.

We have many more ideas for further articles, stories, experiences to share, but for now, it is time to prepare for Shabbat. So we wish you all a wonderful Friday and a very special and restful Shabbat