The Shabbat, which begins on Friday evening at sundown and ends on Saturday evening at sundown, is a day of rest and spiritual renewal in the Hebrew tradition. The worship service on Shabbat typically takes place on Saturday morning, although there are also evening services on Friday night and Havdalah services on Saturday evening to mark the end of Shabbat.
The structure of the Shabbat worship service can vary depending on the synagogue and the denomination of Judaism, but there are some common elements that are typically included:
- Kabbalat Shabbat – This is a Friday night service that welcomes the arrival of Shabbat. It typically includes prayers and songs, such as Psalm 95, Psalm 96, and Lecha Dodi.
- Shacharit – This is the Saturday morning service that typically includes the morning prayers and blessings. It may also include Torah reading and a sermon.
- Musaf – This is an additional service that is recited on Shabbat and includes additional prayers and a repetition of the Amidah prayer.
- Torah Service – This includes the public reading of the Torah, which is the central text of Judaism. The Torah is divided into portions, and each portion is read aloud in the synagogue over the course of a year.
- Aleinu – This is a prayer that is recited at the end of each service to acknowledge God’s sovereignty and our duty to serve Him.
Overall, the Shabbat worship service is a time for community, prayer, and reflection. It is an opportunity to connect with God and with others in a sacred and meaningful way. I hope this overview helps to provide some insight into the structure of a Shabbat worship service.