When Shabbat lands on the fifth Friday of the month, Congregaton Beth Israel observes Shabbat at Home. There is no synagogue service; instead, everyone is encouraged to host or attend a Shabbat at Home. Contact the office if you’d like to be connected with a host with extra seats at the table.
We have also started a Shabbat Dinner Crowd — a flash mob dinner experience — based on a successful model in Seattle. Read more about Shabbat Dinner Crowd here.
Celebrating shabbat at home with family and friends creates a warm and wonderful end to your week. Saying or singing blessings over family, candles, wine and challah helps make it sacred. Enjoy this guide from Larchmont Temple, NY. Shabbat Shalom!
Place your hands on the child’s head and say:
For a boy:
Y’sim-cha Eh-lo-him k’Ephra’im v’chi-M’nasheh.
May God inspire you to live in the tradition of
Ephraim and Menasheh.
For a girl:
Y’si-meich Eh-lo-him k’Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, v’Lei-ah.
May God inspire you to live like Sarah,
Rebekah, Rachel, and Leah.
For both boys and girls:
Y’va-reh-ch’cha Adonai v’yish-m’reh-cha.
Ya-eir Adonai pa-nav ei-leh-cha vi-chu-neh-ka.
Yisa Adonai pa-nav ei-leh-cha v’ya-seim l’cha sha-lom.
May God bless you and keep you.
May God’s light shine upon you, and may God be gracious to you.
May you feel God’s Presence within you always, and may you find peace.