* Translated by Janine Muller Sherr
I asked my readers for tips how to observe Shabbat Shuva—the upcoming Shabbat before Yom Kippur— and received hundreds of wonderful suggestions on how to honor this special Shabbat.
Here are five responses that caught my eye:
1) Einav Barkan recommends that we think about how to prepare for Shabbat before thinking about Shabbat itself. For example, we can compile a “Shabbat playlist”—joyous songs that become the soundtrack of our homes on Friday. It is much more enjoyable to cook and do all the preparations with upbeat music in the background.
2) Omer Yisrael offers a practical tip for beginners—to purchase an urn and a blech or plata (electric warming tray). These are the basic kitchen appliances that are needed to heat up water and food on Shabbat.
3) Esther Veis suggests “to prepare a special dish that you only eat on Shabbat. It could be a nostalgic dish your grandmother used to make, but it could also be something sweet that you wouldn’t buy in the middle of the week. The main thing is that Shabbat should feel special—tastier and happier than any other day.” But aside from preparing special foods, she suggests that we think of special Shabbat activities. “You can think of something good that happened to you during the week and share it with others at your Shabbat table—go around the table and take turns relating positive experiences for which you are grateful.
4) Chaya Eliyahu writes: “Even if you set goals for Shabbat that you don’t manage to accomplish, you need to remember that it’s not “all or nothing.” Each week you can add a little something new and progress slowly. Both those who are just starting to keep Shabbat and those who have always kept it can find ways to make it a deeper experience and add another layer of holiness.”
5) Liat Moshel writes: “What make me feel good is making other people happy. Each Friday I ask myself: Who can I bake a cake for and leave it outside their front door? For me, it is often a woman whose husband is serving in the reserves or a neighbor we want to cheer up. In this way, our Shabbat expands outward as we share it with others.”
I invite you to send more of your ideas to the following address:
One person will receive a copy of my new book, Shabbat: A Guide for the Holy Day. But everyone who participates will gain a more meaningful Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom!
