Shabbat Candlesticks Poster

On Shabbat (The Sabbath - Saturday) Jews observe the commandment of a day of complete rest. Genesis describes how God, after creating the Heavens and the Earth in six days, rested on the seventh. Like all Jewish days, Shabbat begins at sunset, because Genesis Ch. 1 reads, "And there was evening, and there was morning, one day." From this, we infer that a day begins with evening, that is, sunset. Shabbat candles are lit and a blessing is recited no later than eighteen minutes before sunset. This ritual, performed by the woman of the house, officially marks the beginning of the Sabbath. The blessing is as follows: Baruch a-ta A-do-nay Elo-hei-nu me-lech ha-o-lam a-sher ki-dee-sha-nu bi-mitz-vo-tav vi-tzi-va-noo li-had-leek ner shel Sha-bbat Translation: Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with commandments, and commanded us to light Shabbat candles