Shabbat Dinner Guide ShabbatAcrossAtlanta
Shabbat is setting aside a sacred moment in time.
Tableof Contents
Welcoming in Shabbat (p. 6)
Light (p. 8)
Blessings for People (p. 13)
Kiddush (p. 20)
Hand Washing (p. 24)
Hamotzi (p. 26)
More Resources (p. 32)
Invite the lights of Shabbat into your home and begin your special Shabbat experience.
Raise a glass, elevate your evening, and sanctify the wine or grape juice at your table.
Set an intention and accept the serenity of Shabbat with open hands and open hearts
Nourish yourself and bless a special bread for Shabbat in a way that feels meaningful to you
Introduction
Shabbat Across Atlanta is a community-wide initiative. In partnership with OneTable, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Atlanta Rabbinical Association, Zalik Foundation, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, and dozens of synagogues and local organizations, we are excited to bring this inaugural community program to fruition.
Greeting from the Shabbat Across Atlanta Steering Committee by Rabbi Dan Dorsch
Whether it is in Atlanta, Israel, or anywhere else in the world, there is no greater ritual that binds the Jewish people together than when we sit around the Shabbat table. Cultural Zionist icon Ahad Ha'am put this best when he declared that “More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.”
Thank you for your participation in Shabbat Across Atlanta. In the aftermath of October 7, our Atlanta Jewish community needs to seize every opportunity to express our collective pride in being Jewish. Our celebration of Shabbat as one united community this week demonstrates to the world that we reject darkness and marginalization and instead find light, joy, and community in one another
This Shabbat, we pray for our hostages to return home in peace. May they join us once again around our Shabbat tables.
Shabbat Shalom. Am Yisrael Chai.
Rabbi Dan Dorsch is the President of the Atlanta Rabbinical Association, and the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Etz Chaim in Marietta. His favorite Shabbat moment takes place each week when he and his wife Amy bless their children to not only be like our ancestors, but to grow into their very best selves.
Welcoming in Shabbat
In Jewish tradition, the world is created in seven days: six days of work that culminate in the seventh day, Shabbat, a day of rest Shabbat is not a postscript, it is as important a part of bringing the world into being as any of the days of active creativity. Judaism teaches that we, as human beings, are responsible for continuing the work of creation to make the world a better place. The essence of Shabbat isn’t what we can’t do on this one day, it’s what we can do on the other six if we take the time to end our week with intention on Shabbat
This guide is about finding yourself in Shabbat. Throughout it, you’ll find introductions for each Friday night ritual, blessings in Hebrew and English, thoughts to consider, and reflections from Atlanta community leaders. We hope you use this guide as just that a guide. We know that each family, group of friends, and Shabbat table looks a little different, each bringing their own flair to Shabbat practice Use this guide as enrichment and inspiration while holding on to the unique qualities that make your Shabbat dinner yours.
As you join together with family and friends to bring in Shabbat, set the table with intention, place a cover over your loaves of challah, take a deep breath, and consider: How is Shabbat supporting you in this moment?
This guide was designed for Shabbat Across Atlanta and was inspired by OneTable resources with excerpts from Soul Full: Gateways to Jewish Prayer, A Momentum Publication, by Dr. Ronit Ziv-Kreger. Thanks to Abi Oshins and Atlanta community leaders for their contributions and reflections.
Welcoming in Shabbat
Spiritual Synergy of Shabbat
by Rabbi Yossi New
The Kabbalah teaches that there are three realms of holiness in the universe in which we function. They manifest themselves in Olam (space), Shana (time), and Nefesh (person, soul).
At the Shabbat table, all three converge to create a spiritual synergy that unites the forces of creation. During the week, because of our mundane responsibilities, we are forced to spend time in places and with people where there may be tension or even chaos. It's necessary in order to achieve success. As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain.” Yet, it’s also equally necessary to have periodic breaks from it
Bo Shabbat Bo Menucha With Shabbat comes serenity.
At the Shabbat table on Friday night (Shana), we are where we want to be (Olam), and with whom we want to be (Nefesh) And, all three are connected and elevated by a sense of higher purpose.
With Shabbat comes serenity.
Rabbi Yossi New is the regional director of Chabad of Georgia and the Senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth Tefillah in Sandy Springs. Rabbi Yossi and his wife, Dassie, have always placed a strong emphasis on sharing their family’s Shabbat experience in order to introduce people to the beauty of Judaism.
In Jewish tradition, lighting candles at sundown on Friday is the last act of the workweek, the literal spark that carries us into the weekend. While you will find no verse in the Torah instructing you to light two candles at dusk, the rabbinic sages over the centuries linked the practice to the concepts of shamor Shabbat and zachor Shabbat, the commandments to keep and remember the Sabbath
The beauty of Jewish tradition is not its certitude but its ambiguity; even the rabbis disagree on what exactly it means to keep and remember Shabbat.
What might it mean for you? While the rabbis felt it necessary to connect the spiritual concept of shamor and zachor to the candle lighting ritual, it is just as remarkable to recognize that the ritual of candle lighting is a practical act. An embedded candle-lighting ritual ensures you won’t celebrate Shabbat in the dark. Jewish legal sources clearly state that if you can only afford to buy one thing for Friday night it should be candles, because if you can’t see your table, your wine, your food, your guests, it’s impossible to enjoy Shabbat.
We also light candles to separate the holy from the mundane, reminding us of God’s first act of creation. Just as creation began with “let there be light,” so does the celebration of Shabbat This is the moment when Shabbat begins By lighting the candles, we transition from the week to Shabbat, from the mundane to the holy.
Light
The Meditation of Shabbat Candles
by Batsheva Gelbtuch
In the glow of those candles, I hear the whisper of the eternal hope of our peoplehood. That glow connects me to all my ancestors who came before me and to the beautiful souls who will come long after I am gone. In that glow, I send light and love, wrapped in prayer, to my loved ones, my Jewish family, and all of humanity: for my brothers and sisters held in captivity—let them come home please—for those in need of healing, and for hearts that need mending, for the courageous who are fighting for us, for the realization of peace in our times.
That glow reminds me that I have the power to bring light to even the darkest places. In that glow, a whisper lingers, gently reminding me that I am a part of the divine itself. When I recognize that reflection of light in others, I feel truly connected. Reminding me that I’m never truly alone, Hashem is right there with me. Jewish tradition teaches us that as night begins to envelop the world, precisely then—before darkness fully descends—we light Shabbat candles.
These candles remind us of our unique human ability to be the light we so desperately wish to see in a world that often feels so dark. There is a custom to add a candle for every new soul that enters your family. This tradition reminds us that there is a light in this world, in this home, that wasn’t there before this soul graced us with its presence. Shabbat invites us to unburden ourselves and set aside our sorrows and pain, even if only for a brief reprieve. It gives us permission to simply be in a world that constantly demands we become. Shabbat says to us: “Precious one, you are enough. Just as you are, in your totality, you are beautiful, wondrous, and worthy— exactly as you are.”
Batsheva Gelbtuch is the Co-Executive Director of Jewish Women's Connection of Atlanta. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Thomas Edison State College, a Masters in Social Work from Wurzweilers School of Social Work, and she's a Georgia State licensed social worker. Batsheva is passionate about both Jewish women's education and psychology of human beings.
Light
Because lighting candles is the last act of work we do on Friday afternoon, there exists a custom in many homes to light the candles and draw your hands toward yourself three times in a circular motion before covering your eyes and reciting the blessing. When you open your eyes, the light has been transformed from light of the week into the light of Shabbat
Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Majesty of the world, who has made us holy with Your commandments, and instructed us to kindle the Shabbat lights
Shalom Aleichem
We recite the Kabbalistic poem Shalom Aleichem on Friday nights to honor the mystical angels of Shabbat. In Hebrew, angels are called malachim, which literally means "messengers," and they appear in many Jewish stories as God’s messengers.
According to the Zohar, a mystical Jewish text, we are accompanied by angels throughout the workweek. On Shabbat there is a "changing of the guard," and the weekday angels are replaced by Shabbat angels who bring peace to our homes. By singing Shalom Aleichem, we greet the Shabbat angels with joy and honor, welcoming them in with the promise of a peaceful Shabbat.
ShabbatAngels
byRabbiAdamStarr
The ShalomAleichem prayer,acherishedpartofwelcomingShabbatin song,isrecitedasfamilyandguestsfirstsitdownattheShabbattable. ItdrawsinspirationfromtheTalmudicteachinginTractateShabbat (119b)whichdescribeshowtwoangelsaccompanyapersonhome fromsynagogueonFridaynight.IfthehomeispreparedforShabbat— withShabbatcandleslit,thetableset,andtheatmospherepeaceful— oneangelblessesthehousehold,“MayitbeYourwillthatitshallbelike thisforanotherShabbat."Theotherangelresponds,”Amen.”
Inthe ShalomAleichem prayer,wewelcometheseangelsintoourown homesforShabbatandthenaskthemtoblessusinawaysimilarto theAngelsdescribedintheTalmud.Therearesomanyblessingswe desireforourfamily,friends,andtheJewishpeople,yetperhapsthe bestblessingwecanreceiveasweusherinShabbatistheprivilegeof doingthisagainnextweek.AsyousitdowntoyourShabbatmealthis Shabbat,letsoffertheblessing,“MayitbeYourwillthatweexperience thistranquility,camaraderie,spiritualityandtranscendenceforanother Shabbatinpeace.”
RabbiAdamStarrhasbeentheRabbiandspiritualleaderofCongregationOhrHaTorahinAtlanta since2008.RabbiStarrservesontheExecutiveCommitteeoftheRabbinicalCouncilofAmerica andisthepastpresidentoftheAtlantaRabbinicalAssociation.
Shalom Aleichem
Shalom aleichem, malachei hasharet, malachei elyon, MiMelech malachei hamelachim, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
Bo’achem leshalom, malachei hashalom, malachei elyon, MiMelech malachei hamelachim, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
Barchuni leshalom, malachei hashalom, malachei elyon, MiMelech malachei hamelachim, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
Tzeitchem leshalom, malachei hashalom, malachei elyon, MiMelech malachei hamelachim, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
Welcome, angels of service, angels on high, from the Supreme Majesty of all royalty, the Holy One of Blessing. Enter in peace, angels of peace, angels on high, from the Supreme Majesty of all royalty, the Holy One of Blessing. Bless me with peace, angels of peace, angels on high, from the Supreme Majesty of all royalty, the Holy One of Blessing Go in peace, angels of peace, angels on high, from the Supreme Majesty of all royalty, the Holy One of Blessing.
Blessings for People
In Jewish tradition, it is not just the time, space, or ritual that makes an occasion holy but the people gathered there to celebrate. Therefore, we take this opportunity to bless those seated around the Shabbat table. Shabbat is made holy through your presence and theirs.
The next few pages contain a number of different blessings for those present this evening some more specific, some more general. We invite you to recite whichever blessings work for you, or simply share your gratitude for those with whom you are sharing your Shabbat meal.
ShabbatandFamily
byYangYang
MyhusbandBrianandIcountraisingourthreeJewishchildreninacity asvibrantanddiverseasAtlantaasoneofourgreatestblessings.The Shabbatritualofblessingthechildrenisalwaysawonderfulreminder ofwhywecelebrateShabbatinthefirstplace.Fewthingscancompare tothebeautifulsightofyoungchildrenplacingtheirhandsonthetops ofeachother’sheadsrightbeforediggingintochallah.
WelovegatheringwithotherJewishfriendsforShabbat,butwealso loveinvitingfamiliesfromourkids’schoolsthatarenewtothese customs.WhiletheritualsmaybeuniquetoJudaism,Shabbat's themesofrest,family,blessings,andreflectionareuniversal,andwe lookforwardtosharingthesetraditionswithourfriendsformanyyears tocome.
Yang Yang is coming up on her 10-year anniversary as a member of Atlanta's Jewish community. She is passionately involved with Honeymoon Israel, The Temple, and is proud to have served on the inaugural Shabbat Across Atlanta steering committee. She and her husband Brian Weiss live in Dunwoody with their three kids Ellie, Sophie, and Aaron, whose favorite weekend foods are challah and dim sum.
Eshet Chayil
Eshet Chayil, literally translated as “ a woman of valor,” comes from a biblical passage in Proverbs and has been recited as part of the Friday evening liturgy since the 17th century Eshet Chayil gives us a moment to lift up the valuable work done by the women around us, which too regularly gets ignored or taken for granted. Something particularly striking about this piece of liturgy is the word “Chayil. ” Not only can it mean “valor,” but it could also be translated as treasure, force, strength, or ability
We’re talking about women who are more valuable than precious gems, not because they are commodities, but because they are forces of nature, one-woman armies. Just as Shabbat sustains us, so too do the women in our lives. Eshet Chayil gives us the opportunity to share that appreciation each and every week
We invite you to read or chant the words of Eshet Chayil if it is your custom. You could also take this moment to go around the table and share “ a person of valor” from the week, someone of any gender you would like to lift up, who embodies the spirit and strength of a oneperson army
Eshet Chayil
Dedication,Love,andFaith
byShiraHahnandMelissaKaplan
Foryoungmothers,likeus, EshetChayil canserveasareminderthat theirefforts,bothseenandunseen,aredeeplyvaluedandholy.The poemisn’taboutperfectionbutratheraboutdedication,love,andfaith. Itassuresmothersthattheiruniquecontributions—whetherthrough careerachievements,parenting,orspiritualguidance—arewoveninto thesacredfabricoftheirfamily’slife.OnShabbat,thesecontributions arecelebrated,andtheirvalueismagnifiedinthestillnessandsanctity oftheday.
Personally,itisoftenhardtofeelvalueddaytoday.Wespendourtime carpooling,cooking,makingplaydates,doctorappointments,signing upforcamp,attendingschoolfunctions,runningthecalendar,and oftentimesmanagingacareerontopofit.Wehopethatforthisone Shabbat,yourfamilywilltakethetimetoread EshetChayil,and appreciatewhatyouandothersaroundyoudoforyourfamily.Whether itisyou,yourmotheroranotherfigure,pleasethankthepersonwho makesyourhouseholdrunsmoothlyandkeepsthepiecesinplace.
Shira Hahn and Melissa Kaplan are the Shabbat Across Atlanta Project Managers. Shira has over 15 years of professional experience in the Atlanta Jewish community. She launched OneTable in Atlanta in 2017, serves as the JBaby Coordinator for PJ Library, a program she created to support young families. She lives in Dunwoody with her husband and two children. Melissa has worked in the Atlanta Jewish Community for over 10 years and has three children and resides in Sandy Springs with her husband where they attend a lot of sporting events when not participating in the Atlanta Jewish community.
Eshet Chayil
Eshet Chayil
[Joyful is one] who has found a woman of strong character. Her worth is far greater than precious pearls. Her husband trusts in her wholeheartedly, and profits thereby. She recompenses (his good treatment of her) treating him well, not bitterly, all the days of her life. She seeks out wool and linen, and works with willing hands She is like a ship laden with merchandise, bringing (spiritual and physical) food from afar. She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household, and a fair share for her staff. She considers (the worth of) a field and purchases it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She invests herself with strength, and braces her arms for her tasks She sees that her business goes well Her light does not go out at night Her hands are engaged with the spindle, and her palms support the loom. She reaches out her palm to the poor, and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household, for they are all dressed in fine crimson wool. She makes her own tapestries. Her clothing is of fine linen and purple wool Her husband is well known at (community meeting places, such as) the gates, where he sits with the leaders of the land.
She makes fine garments and sells them; she supplies the merchants with sashes. She is robed with strength and dignity, and she (can laugh and) smile (with hope) toward the future She opens her mouth with wisdom, and a lesson of loving-kindness is on her tongue She oversees the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness. Her children stand tall and make her happy; her husband praises her, (saying:) “Many women have excelled, but you surpass them all!” Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain; it is a God-fearing woman who deserves praise Give her the reward she has earned, and let her deeds bring her praise at the gates
Dodi Li
Dodi Li is a short song composed of lines from Song of Songs, which some Jews recite either in part or in its entirety each Friday evening The line proclaims, “I am my beloved, and my beloved is mine.”
This declaration of mutual belonging is often recited at weddings and Shabbat tables alike, announcing both the love between spouses and the love between God and the People of Israel. When we recite Dodi Li or Song of Songs on Friday evening, it is a reminder that we can hold each other close. Shabbat is a perfect opportunity to renew that partnership with each other.
Dodi li vaani lo haro-eh bashoshanim. Mi zot olah min hamidbar, m’kuteret mor ul’vonah. Libavtini, achoti chalah. Uri tzafon uvo-i teiman.
My beloved is mine and I am my beloved’s, a shepherd among the lilies. Who is this that comes up from the desert, fragrant with myrrh and frankincense? You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride Awake, O north wind. Come, O south wind!
Blessing the Children
Each Friday night we have the opportunity to bless our children. In a show of unconditional love, we ask that they receive divine favor and grace We invoke the names of beloved biblical characters, asking that they have role models to look up to Below, you’ll find the words to bless boys, the words to bless girls, and the words to bless everyone. The final stanza can actually be used to bless everyone at your table — adults and children alike! When blessing your children, we recommend reciting the blessing while putting a hand on their head or shoulders
For Blessing Boys
Yesimcha Elohim k’Ephraim v’chi-Menashe.
May you be like Ephraim and Menashe.
For Blessing Girls
Yesimech Elohim k’Sarah Rivka Rachel v’Leah
May you be like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.
For Blessing All Shabbat Guests
Yivarechecha Adonai v’yishmerecha
Ya’er Adonai panav eilecha vichuneka
Yisa Adonai panav eilecha v’yasem lecha shalom
May God bless and protect you
May God’s presence shine upon you and give grace to you May God turn toward you, and grant you peace.
Kiddush
In Judaism, wine represents joy. It is there to sanctify the holy moments in our calendar as well as elevated milestones of our lives. By taking a moment to bless the wine, we acknowledge joy as a core element of Jewish living.
Through the blessing of the wine (kiddush), one acknowledges two of God’s greatest gifts: creation of the world and the exodus from Egypt. Kiddush also creates a moment to express gratitude for Shabbat. It is composed of two blessings: to bless the wine and to sanctify the day.
When we recite kiddush we separate Shabbat from the rest of the week, as if to say that this Friday night, this Shabbat dinner, this exact moment, which has never occurred before and never will again, is special. L’chaim to that!
At OneTable, we like to think about kiddush as a chance to choose your own adventure Whether you say kiddush standing up or sitting down, recite the whole thing or just a single line – the choice is yours The kiddush cup is literally in your hands!
Kiddush
Holiness and Peace
by Rabbi Lauren Henderson
Every Friday evening after a week of rushing around, we somehow manage to gather around the dinner table to bring in Shabbat with our two young kids. Chaos is the dominant energy of life right now, but I’ve noticed how making kiddush manages to slow down time and help us shift toward holiness and peace
Our two year old loves to drink grape juice out of his little kiddush cup, but even he’ll wait patiently while I recite the prayer, realizing that something magical is happening
Vay'varech Elohim et yom hash'vi-i vay'kadeish oto… And God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy.
The idea that we can make time holy used to feel completely abstract to me. But kids can sense the holiness of a moment, even if they don’t have the words to express it. They sense a shift from doing to being, from stress to rest, if only just for a moment. We have the ability to make this shift happen, every single week, and it’s a gift every single time
Rabbi Lauren Henderson is the spiritual leader of Congregation Or Hadash in Sandy Springs. Ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in 2016, she and her husband Joel Dworkin have two sons, Rafi (2 years) and Amit (5 months).
Kiddush
Kiddush
Va’yihi erev va’yihi voker yom ha’shishi.
Va’yichulu ha’shamayim va’ha’aretz v’chol tziva’am.
Va’yichol Elohim ba’yom ha’shivi’i milachto asher asah va’yishbot ba’yom ha’shivi’i mi’kol milachto asher asah.
Va’yivarech Elohim et yom ha’shivi’i va’yikadesh oto ki vo shavat mi’kol melachto asher bara Elohim la’asot.
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam borei p’ri ha’gafen.
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’ratzah vanu v’Shabbat kodsho b’ahahvah uv’ratzon hinchilanu zikaron l’ma’aseh v’reishit.
Ki hu yom tehilah l’mikra’ei kodesh zeicher litziat Mitzrayim.
Ki vanu vacharta v’otanu k’dashta mi’kol ha’amim v’Shabbat kodshicha b’ahavah uv’ratzon hinchaltanu.
Baruch Atah Adonai mikadesh ha’Shabbat
It was evening and it was morning, the sixth day.
The heavens and the earth and all they contain were completed With the seventh day, God had finished the work, ceasing on that seventh day from all the creative work that God had done. God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on that day God rested from all the work of Creation.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Majesty of the world, who creates the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Majesty of the world, Who made us holy with commandments and favored us, and gave us this holy Shabbat in love and favor to be our heritage as a reminder of Creation.
It is the first among the holy days of gathering, a reminder of the Exodus from Egypt For out of all the nations You chose us and made us holy, and You gave us Your holy Shabbat in love and favor as our heritage. Blessed are You God, Who makes Shabbat holy.
Hand Washing
In Jewish tradition, water is transformative. Not only does it have the power to clean physically, it also cleans us spiritually. The water can hold the grime from the week that we no longer wish to hold, allowing space for us to accept the serenity of Shabbat with open hands and open hearts
We invite you to partake in the hand washing ritual, even if it’s something you've never previously done. This particular form of handwashing is less about hygiene and more about intention.
Rather than placing your hands underneath the faucet, it is common to fill a cup with water first Some people use a cup with two handles, but any vessel will do. Holding the cup with one hand, pour two or three splashes of water over your other hand, and then vice versa. Regardless of whether you are a righty or a lefty, some people pour water on the right hand first because, in Jewish mystical thought, the right side of the body symbolizes kindness, a quality that never hurts to prioritize
Next, recite the handwashing blessing, which some people say while raising their hands in the air as a symbol of spiritual elevation. Others say the blessing while drying their hands with a towel. After washing, it can be a sweet gesture of hospitality to fill up the cup for the next person
Because the ritual of handwashing is closely connected to that of bread, some people have the tradition of refraining from talking in between washing their hands and eating challah. Though it can create a few moments of silence while everyone washes, you may use this as an opportunity to sit in quiet meditation or to sing a niggun (a wordless melody).
Hand Washing
Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al n’tilat yadayim.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Majesty of the World, who has made us holy with Your commandments, and instructed us regarding [elevating] washing the hands
The Ritual of Handwashing: A Moment of Sacred Intention
by Michael Karlin
Before the blessing over the challah, we pause to wash our hands — not simply for cleanliness, but to mark a sacred transition. In this act, we prepare to elevate the ordinary into the holy. The Torah instructs the Kohanim, the priests, to wash their hands before serving in the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary (Exodus 30:20). Our handwashing mirrors their sacred service, reminding us that our Shabbat table is an altar and our meal an offering of gratitude and love.
With water, we rinse away the distractions of the week, cleansing our hands and spirits to fully embrace the sanctity of Shabbat. The blessing recited silently after handwashing, al netilat yadayim, speaks of “lifting” our hands. It is an invitation to raise the everyday into the realm of the divine In that moment, our hands become vessels for blessing, ready to hold peace, connection, and holiness at the Shabbat table
Michael Karlin, PhD, is the president of the Board of The Weber School and a senior advisor to the Zalik Foundation. He’s a retired real estate and tech entrepreneur and loves celebrating Shabbat with his wife Ann and three adult children, Benjamin, Rose, and Dov.
Hamotzi
In the ancient Near East, if there wasn’t bread on the table, it wasn’t a meal. As a result, the Jewish sages viewed bread as the primary source of nourishment, both literally and spiritually. Challah, the slightly sweet, braided bread many enjoy at modern Shabbat dinners, comes from a commandment in the Torah requiring the Israelites to set aside a portion of dough every week as an offering; that donation was called challah.
On many tables, you will find two loaves of challah. On Shabbat, we revel in possibility and abundance. We have a double portion of everything, just as the Israelites received a double portion of manna every Shabbat throughout their forty years of wandering in the wilderness.
You’ll also notice that we cover the challah while saying the other blessings. Not only does this provide some dramatic flare, but it also keeps the challah from getting jealous of the wine and the candles, since their blessings come first Jealous challah just tastes worse
Uncover the challah and recite the blessing. Pass it, rip it, cut it, tear into it like you mean it There’s no right or wrong way, as long as the bread makes its way around the table.
You might also see some people add salt to the pieces of challah before sharing. While this practice has its roots in Temple times, it also has a more mystical explanation. According to Isaac Luria, the great 16th century Kabbalist, both bread (םחל) and salt (חלמ) are representations of the divine; salt is divine severity, and bread is divine kindness. We seek to overpower the severity of the salt with the kindness of the bread. Therefore, when you salt your challah, do not sprinkle the salt on top of the bread, but instead touch the bread to the salt kindness over severity.
Hamotzi
Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam hamotzi lechem min ha’aretz.
Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Majesty of the world, who brings forth bread from the earth
Make Your Table Like an Altar by Rabbi
Peter S. Berg
How can our homes become sacred spaces? In biblical and rabbinic tradition, the Temple is called HaBayit (the House), the home of God who dwells in the midst of the human community. The portable “Temple,” the Tent of Meeting that was in the desert, is called the mishkan (the Dwelling), the place of God’s imminent Shechina that dwells among us. God said: “Make Me a Mikdash, a sanctified structure – and I will dwell, Shachanti, among them ” - Exodus 25:8
When the Temple was destroyed, the rabbis sought to establish a place for the Divine Presence (Shechinah) inside the Jewish home. The great Kabbalist Isaiah Horowitz summarizes a symbolic view that dates back to the Talmud: “The table substitutes for the altar, one who eats stands in for the priest, the food replaces the sacrifice.”
Therefore, Jewish tradition – whether as law or custom – established pattern of table life to sanctify the otherwise animal function of feeding our bodies and to make it an occasion for communion with God and sharing with one another. This communal meal helps bring atonement with God and humans.
Rabbi Peter S. Berg, the Senior Rabbi of The Temple, serves the diverse and multigenerational congregation as a spiritual leader. Rabbi Berg is passionate about Jewish learning and meaningful worship, and he is an advocate for social change.
Conversation Starters
You’ve recited the blessings and done the rituals. It’s time to sit back and enjoy good food and good company. We believe a Shabbat dinner is made all the more special if enjoyed alongside engaging conversations that are different from your typical daily ones.
If you’re looking for a few ideas to get the conversations going, look no further than these conversation starters, or consider discussing the weekly Torah portion.
What foods remind you of home?
What does Shabbat mean to you?
What’s your favorite spot on The Beltline?
What is the most important lesson you ’ ve been taught by a family member?
When and where do you most feel like you belong? Is who you are now who you wanted to be when you were growing up?
What’s the greatest risk you ’ ve ever taken?
What’s your favorite park in Atlanta?
Who is the person, where is the place, what is the thing that feels like home to you?
How have your values changed over the past 10 years?
What inspires you to better yourself?
Would you rather spend a week in the past or a week in the future?
You can be any inanimate object for 24 hours. What do you want to be and why?
What do you know now that you really wished someone had taught you growing up?
What sense of purpose or mission guides you in your life?
What’s a piece of Atlanta history you think more people should know about?
What gives you the most hope about the future?
Birkat Hamazon
The practice of reciting grace after a meal is taken from a commandment in the Torah. Simply, “Once you eat, and are satisfied, bless.” We revel in and give thanks not only for the food, but for physical and spiritual satiation. To say grace after a meal therefore requires a sense of intention around the act of consumption, nourishment, and feeling good as a result Whether you recite the full text of Birkat Hamazon, or simply have a moment for appreciation, here are a few questions to fuel your gratitude:
What have been your experiences of gratitude at the Shabbat table?
Besides food itself, what else nourishes you?
Sharing Shabbat by Jared
Powers
Shabbat is a weekly reminder of the power of community. Growing up at Camp Barney Mednitz, I experienced firsthand how Shabbat brought people together friends, counselors, and mentors creating a shared sense of connection and belonging. Now, as a husband and dad to two boys, I see how that sense of community is just as meaningful today. Shabbat is a chance to gather, whether it’s around the family table, with friends, or as part of a larger group. It’s about stepping away from the hustle of the week to focus on the relationships that sustain us. From sharing challah to singing together, Shabbat rituals create moments that remind us we’re not alone in the world. It’s in these connections that we find strength, joy, and a renewed sense of purpose to carry us into the week ahead. Shabbat is better when we share it with others
Jared Powers is the CEO of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, where he has served in leadership roles since 2005. A proud alumnus of BBYO, Camp Barney Mednitz, and the University of Florida, Jared is deeply committed to fostering community and connection.
Birkat Hamazon
You can find the full text to Birkat Hamazon in a siddur or bentcher of your choice. If doing a full recitation of Birkat Hamazon is not your practice, below you’ll find the text of Brich Rachamana, a succinct alternative from the Babylonian Talmud:
Brich Rachamana, Malka d'alma, marey d'hai pita.
Blessed are You, Merciful One, Majesty of the world, Who sustains life with bread.
Giving Thanks by
Renée Kutner
As we gather together at the end of our Shabbat meal, we give thanks through Birkat Hamazon, expressing gratitude for the food we’ve shared and the company we’ve enjoyed This moment of blessing is not only about acknowledging what we have, but also recognizing the responsibility we carry to share with others. In the Torah, we are taught to leave the corners of our fields for the poor and to provide for those in need. The act of giving back is an essential part of living a life of gratitude As we reflect on the blessings of this meal, let us remember that true gratitude is not only about what we’ve received, but also about what we give. Each act of kindness, no matter how small, strengthens the fabric of our Jewish community and helps create a world where everyone has a seat at the table. May we continue to give and receive in abundance
Renée Kutner is the President and CEO for the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. Renée was a graduate of the inaugural cohort of the Mandel Executive Leadership Program for the development of rising Federation and JCC leaders and is also very active in multiple community organizations.
More Resources
There are many ways to enjoy Friday night dinners and Shabbat rituals. For additional ideas, explore these resources to download, print, watch, or listen to before your Shabbat Across Atlanta gathering.
OneTable
Audio of Blessings
Union for Reform Judaism
Audio of Blessings
OneTable Resource Library
Chabad
Audio of Songs and Prayers
18Doors
Resources for Interfaith Homes
My Jewish Learning Weekly Torah Portion Summary & Commentary
Stay Involved
We hope Shabbat Across Atlanta inspires you to get more involved with the Atlanta Jewish community. We’re eager and excited to welcome you, your family, your friends, and your network to any and all of these opportunities across the community.
Host Shabbat Dinners with OneTable
Through peer-led Shabbat dinners and our signature digital platform, we make community accessible, inclusive, and meaningful for all. Host or find a Shabbat dinner near you, explore our Shabbat resources, and build community
Learn and Be Inspired with The Dupree
Experience amazing speakers, find shared learning experiences, and gather with others to ignite your passion for Judaism and support of Israel. The Dupree is the crossroads for adults to connect in meaningful ways
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta
Connect to new people, experiences, and opportunities by getting involved with your Federation. Become a volunteer, host an event, recruit a friend, or join a committee.
Receive Books from PJ Library
If you love bedtime stories and reading with your kids, then PJ Library in Greater Atlanta is for you. They’ll send you free, age-appropriate, and beautiful Jewish children's books every month.
Get Involved with Marcus JCC of Atlanta
Find your community in the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta preschools, fitness center and classes, camps, after school programs, arts, and more.
About Shabbat Across Atlanta
Shabbat Across Atlanta is a community-wide initiative. In partnership with OneTable, the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Atlanta Rabbinical Association, Zalik Foundation, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, and dozens of synagogues and local organizations, we are excited to bring this inaugural community program to fruition
Thank you to our steering committee members for their inspiration and ideas: Rabbi Peter S. Berg, Kelly Cohen, Rabbi Daniel Dorsch, Michael Fingerman, Michael Karlin, Samantha Kurgan, Rabbi Yossi New, Spencer Perdeck, Rabbi Adam Starr, Rich Walter, Yang Yang, and Helen Zalik For a list of steering community and partner organizations, visit onetable org/atlanta
In addition, thank you to the professional team that made this initiative possible, including Shira Hahn, Melissa, Kaplan, MJ Kurs-Lasky, the OneTable and Zalik Foundation teams, and many more.
About OneTable
OneTable is a North American non-profit empowering people who don’t yet have a consistent Shabbat dinner practice to build one that feels authentic, sustainable, and valuable. OneTable was initially funded to support people aged 21-39ish to find and share this powerful experience, and has expanded to include those 50ish+ via OneTable Together Through its private-label technology and consulting services, Powered By OneTable, it enables other engagement-oriented organizations to experience the power and benefits of peer-led, DIY events Learn more at onetable.org.
“More than the Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews.” – Ahad Ha’am