Did you know there is one Jewish holiday whose importance exceeds all the rest?

If you are thinking that it is Passover, guess again. Yes, Passover is important and we are commanded to remember the exodus from Egypt every day, which reminds us that we were once slaves and so should be empathetic to all who are in current states of slavery.

If you are thinking it is Yom Kippur, you have been tricked again. Yes, Yom Kippur is important. Together with Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur bookends the “Days of Awe” when we spend ten days examining our behavior and looking for ways to be a better person and a better Jew.

Here is a hint... The most important Jewish holiday comes every week! Yep, it is Shabbat or the Sabbath. One day a week, in imitation of God who rested on the seventh day of creation, we rest from our work.

To help you bring the gift of the Sabbath in to every home, InterfaithFamily brings you the booklet Shabbat Made Easy.

This little booklet is a guide through the why and how of bringing Shabbat to your home and table. It includes all the blessings traditionally said in the table service with candles, wine and the braided bread called challah. This booklet can be the script for both Jewish and interfaith families who are ready to “build a cathedral in time,” as Abraham Joshua Heschel said.

Check out the Shabbat Made Easy booklet!

InterfaithFamily is the premiere resource supporting interfaith couples exploring Jewish life and inclusive Jewish communities. Learn more at InterfaithFamily.com.

There is no more fundamentally human act than breaking bread together. On Shabbat we use two, complete loaves of rich, braided bread to symbolize abundance and blessing.

When setting the table, set two loaves of challah on plate, cover with a cloth, and place either a shaker of salt or container of honey nearby.

Remove the challah cover.
Touch the challah or touch someone who is touching the challah.
Bless together.
Tear or cut the challah into pieces. Dip it in salt (use honey instead if anyone present is within the first year of marriage).
Pass or throw (yes, throw!) the challah to each person at the table.

בָּרוּךְ‭ ‬אַתָּה‭ ‬יְיָ‭ ‬אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ‭ ‬מֶֽלֶךְ‭ ‬הָעוֹלָם
‭ ‬הַמּֽוֹצִיא‭ ‬לֶֽחֶם‭ ‬מִן‭ ‬הָאָֽרֶץ

Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam,
hamotzi lekhem min ha-aretz.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe,
Who brings forth bread from the earth.

No matter what temper tantrum or adolescent rebellion marked the week that is past, we take a moment to place our hands on our children’s heads and to offer them words of pure love.

The blessing for boys derives from Jacob’s blessing to his grandsons, Ephraim and Menashe, who are the first pair of siblings in the Bible who love each other rather than fight each other. The blessing for girls invokes the memory of our four matriarchs — Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah. The second part of the blessing — the Priestly Blessing — is the same for boys and girls and it comes from the Book of Numbers.

Place your hands on the head of the person you are blessing. Offer your blessing either aloud or silently. In addition to the traditional words, you may also wish to tell your child something that made you proud of them from the past week. Seal it with a kiss.

For daughters:
יְשִֹימֵךְ‭ ‬אֱלֹהִים‭ ‬כְּשָֹרָה‭ ‬רִבְקָה‭ ‬רָחֵל‭ ‬וְלֵאָה
Yesimeikh Elohim k’Sarah Rivka Rakhel v’Leah.
May God bless you like Sara, Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah.

For sons:
יְשִֹימְךָ‭ ‬אֱלֹהִים‭ ‬כְּאֶפְרַיִם‭ ‬וְכִמְנַשֶה
Yesimkha Elohim k’Efrayim vekhi’Menasheh.
May God bless you like Ephraim and Menasheh.

For all children, continue with:
יְבָרֶכְךָ‭ ‬יי‭ ‬וְיִשְמְרֶךָ יָאֵר‭ ‬יי‭ ‬פָּנָיו‭ ‬אֵלֶיךָ‭ ‬וִיחֻנֶךָ יִשָא‭ ‬יי‭ ‬פָּנָיו‭ ‬אֵלֶיךָ‭ ‬וְיָשֵֹם‭ ‬לְךָ‭ ‬שָלוֹם  

Y’varekhekha Adonai v’yishmerekha
Ya-er Adonai panav elekha vihuneka
Yisa Adonai panav elekha, v’ yasem l’kha shalom.

May Adonai bless you and watch over you.
May Adonai’s light shine on you and be gracious to you.
May Adonai smile on you and grant you peace.

For a woman:

אֵֽשֶׁת‭ ‬חַֽיִל‭ ‬מִי‭ ‬יִמְצָא‭ ‬וְרָחֹק‭ ‬מִפְּנִינִים‭ ‬מִכְרָהּ‭. ‬בָּֽטַח‭ ‬בָּהּ‭ ‬לֵב‭ ‬בַּעְלָהּ‭ ‬וְשָׁלָל‭ ‬לֹא‭ ‬יֶחְסָר

פִּֽיהָ‭ ‬פָּתְחָה‭ ‬בְחָכְמָה‭ ‬וְתֽוֹרַת‭ ‬חֶֽסֶד‭ ‬עַל‭ ‬לְשׁוֹנָהּ‭. ‬קָֽמוּ‭ ‬בָנֶֽיהָ‭ ‬וַיְאַשְּׁרֽוּהָ‭ ‬בַּעְלָהּ‭ ‬וַיְהַלְלָהּ‭. ‬רַבּוֹת‭ ‬בָּנוֹת‭ ‬עָֽשׂוּ‭ ‬חָֽיִל‭ ‬וְאַתְּ‭ ‬עָלִית‭ ‬עַל‭ ‬כֻּלָּֽנָה‭ ‬

Eishet Chayil mi yimtza, v’rakhok mi’pninim michrah.  Batakh bah lev ba’alah, v’shalal lo yekhsar.  Piha pat’cha v’chochmah, v’torat chesed al l’shonah.  Kamu vaneha v’ya’ashruhah, ba’alah vay’hal’lah.  Rabot banot asu chayil, v’at alit al kulanah.

A woman of valor, who can find? Her worth is far beyond rubies. Her husband trusts in her, and lacks for nothing. Her lips are full of wisdom, her mouth with loving-kindness. Her children rise and bless her, her husband sings her praises: “Many women have done well, but you surpass them all!” (Proverbs 31)

For a man:

מִי‭ ‬הָאִישׁ‭ ‬הֶחָפֶץ‭ ‬חַיִּים‭ ‬אוֹהֵב‭ ‬יָמִים‭ ‬לִרְאוֹת‭ ‬טוֹב נְצֹר‭ ‬לְשׁוֹנְךָ‭ ‬מֵרָע‭ ‬וּשְׂפָתֶיךָ‭ ‬מִדַּבֵּר‭ ‬מִרְמָה סוּר‭ ‬מֵרָע‭ ‬וַעַשֵׂה‭ ‬טוֹב‭ ‬בַּקֵּשׁ‭ ‬שָׁלוֹם‭ ‬וְרָדְפֵהוּ

Mi ha-ish, he-hafetz hayim, ohev yamim lir’ot tov? N’tzor l’shon’kha mei’ra, u’sfotecha mi-daber mirma. Sur mei’ra va’aseh tov, bakesh shalom v’rod’feihu

Who is the man who is eager for life, who hopes for long days of good fortune? He guards his tongue from speaking deceit, he turns from evil and does good, he desires peace and pursues it. (Psalm 34)