Deuteronomy 6:4 says "Hear O Israel, the Lord Thy God, the Lord is One.". Since the following verses speak of reciting these words when you lie down and when you get up, the Hebrew "Shema" prayer is said both morning and evening.



Even the New Testament quotes the Shema. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is asked by a scribe "What is the greatest commandment". He replied with the "Shema".

Jewish events are almost always marked by several "brachot" or "blessings". Since kindling of fire is forbidden on the Sabbath, the week is ended with candle-lighting, and then again the Sabbath is concluded with candle-lighting. The lighting of the fire indicates a separate between the holy and the common (or the secular and the profane).

Their is a brief prayer for candling lighting, typically called "Ner Shel Shabbat". This is typically recited by the woman of the house. This is followed by the "bracha" or blessing said over the wine, then the bread.

"Lecha Dodi" is a song sung on Friday evening to greet "the Sabbath Queen". Literally, the phrase means "Come My Beloved". The Sabbath itself is referred to as a "bride" in this song.

Havdalah is a brief ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath. It comes from the word "l'havdil" which means to distinguish or separate. Three blessing are recited as part of this service: 1) The blessing over the wine, 2) the blessing of the spices, and 3) the blessings over the fire (a special multi-wicked Havdalah candle it lit).

The wine cup is filled to overflowing, symbolizing the joy of the Sabbath day. The spices remind us of the sweetness of the Sabbath, which departs for another six days. The spices commonly used are cloves, cinnamon or bay leaves. They are commonly kept in a special decorated holder called a b'samim box.

The brief Havdalah ceremony typically concludes with the song "Eliyahu HaNavi" (Elijah the Prophet). The song goes as follows: "Elijah the Prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah, Elijah, Elijah the Gileadite, Speedily and in our days, Come to us, With the messiah, son of David, With the messiah, son of David.