L’chaim! Last weekend I along with my good ol’ friend Samantha Teich, went to a very beautiful religious event called a, Shabbaton. In English – speaking countries, the term Shabbaton is often employed to mean an event or program of education, usually a celebration, that is held on a Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath). Sometimes a Shabbaton is an entire weekend with the main focus on Shabbat. The concept of a sabbatical year has a source in several places in the Bible, where there is a commandment to desist from working the fields in the seventh year (day).
I checked in and registration at the Boca Raton Synagogue to see who I will be staying at for Friday night/Saturday during the day. This action is called the “hosts home” where one would stay for the event of the Shabbaton. I myself found out that I was staying at my other good ol’ friend Ayala Brodie’s house! I was so happy, as you can imagine. Went to her house and got myself settled so it won’t be long until we start the candle lightning of Mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat, Maariv.
Mincha, pronounced as minxe; sometimes spelled Minchah or Minha is the afternoon prayer service in Judaism. Kabbalat is what most of the Jewish liturgy is sung or chanted with traditional melodies or trope. Synagogues may designate or employ a professional or lay hazzan (cantor) for the purpose of leading the congregation in prayer, especially on Shabbat or holidays. Maariv, also known as Avrit is a Jewish prayer service held in the evening or night. It consists primarily of the evening Shema and Amidah. The service usually begins with two verses from Psalms, followed by the communal recitation of Barechu.
Anyways, I along with Ayala and Samantha went to the synagogue for yummy dinner and super fun ruach! Ruach, is a chant that is being used to hype every up to make the Shabbaton fun and alive. Imaginae that! So, on top of that yummy desert and innocent schmoozing pretty much talking in which cached up with a lot of people because everybody is a busy bee….hehe After a long night, I along with Ayala and Samantha went back to Ayala’s house then said, “Layla Tov!”. Which is Good Night in Hebrew.
Wake up time! Again, I along with Ayala and Samantha woke up and got ourselves ready for another fun day on the Shabbaton event. Nine in the morning we went to the synagogue for Shachrit. Shachrit, or Shacharis in Ashkenazi Hebrew is the daily morning Telfillah (prayer) of the Jewish people. One of the three times there is a prayer each day. Next, Parsha games! Parsha games are really just any fun game you can think of, but Jewish version with one or two other categories in the mix to make it interesting. Next, yummy lunch and it was Chinese food which made lunch time even better!
Then, again I along with Ayala and Samantha went to Ayala’s house for Menucha. Rest, peace. Modern Hebrew. Menucha is a name meaning “rest” or “peace”. It is not used in the Bible as a name, but rather as a word which is usually connected to a resting point. For example, the word was used during the Israelites’ wandering in the desert then they would stop at a specific point in order to rest. The, again I along with Ayala and Samantha went to someone’s house for, Oneg! An Oneg is an informal Sabbath gathering on Friday evening, the start of the Jewish Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath and the joy to be found in it. The Oneg can be celebrated in a private home or in a synagogue and has become a more social than religious celebration, and on Saturday’s to not just Friday evening’s.
Then, again I along with Ayala and Samantha went back to the synagogue for Mincha as I explained earlier but this time Seudat Shlishit with the entire community. The Talmud (Tractate Shabbat 117b) states that a Jew must eat three meals on the Shabbath day, based on a derivation from a Biblical passage referring to Shabbat….indeed, while sometimes called Seudat Shilshit, or “third meal”. It is often called shalosh seudos, “three meals” for its significance. Next, Maariv and Havdala!
I explained to you about Maariv earlier, but not Havdala! Havdala is a Jewish religious ceremony or formal prayer marking the end of the Sabbath. A multisensory experience that includes fire, spices, and wine. Here is the procedure in brief:
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Grasping a cup brimming with Kosher grape juice or wine, the leader recites a series of nine joyful quotes from the Hebrew Bible. The hagafen blessing, which is always said before drinking wine, is then recited, and everyone responds with “Amen”.
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The reader then says another short blessing, which is again followed by “Amen.” Everyone then takes a good whiff of aromatic herbs, oils or spices.
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After the next blessing, everyone responds with “Amen” and draws their fingers near the flame so that they can see the candle’s light reflecting on their fingernails.
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The reader recites a slightly longer blessing, which is followed by a final “Amen,” and then sits down to drink the wine/grape juice.
So as you can see, pretty powerful indeed. In addition to all that, again I along with Ayala and Samantha went back to Ayala’s house to get our things. Went back to the synagogue and Samantha’s mom picked us up. All three of us said our goodbyes with warm hugs. Samantha and I left, and Samantha’s mom dropped me off at my house and they went their way. What a phenomenal time that was!