What is Shabbat? Shabbat (the Jewish Shabbath) is a weekly 25-hour observance that begins just before sundown each Friday and ends at nightfall on Saturday. Shabbat is a dedicated time each week to stop working and focus more on the pleasures of life.

It’s definitely not easy, especially in a time when we are always working from running errands to checking emails, it seems to never stop. Shabbat is a time to recharge. Watch this video to learn more about why and how Jews observe Shabbat.

Learn Shalom Aleichem, a traditional Jewish song sung at Friday night dinner. It’s a beautiful song and Alicia Jo Rabins teaches us what it means and how to sing it.
Shabbat Shalom!

Learn the blessing (bracha) over wine or grape juice that Jewish families say on Shabbat and holidays. This is also known as the simple “short” kiddush.

To learn the full Shabbat evening kiddush, check out this other Shabbat video we made with Moishe House that teaches the whole long version.

Click the preview below to download a handy dandy blessings cheat sheet to post on your fridge and use together!

In this karaoke video, parents and kids learn the blessing, or bracha, over challah that Jewish families say on Shabbat…or anytime over regular bread.

Click the preview below to download a handy dandy blessings cheat sheet to post on your fridge and use together!

If this was helpful, be sure to check out all of our Shabbat Shaboom videos – you can learn about blessing the grape juice, lighting the candles and so much more. Shabbat shalom to your family!

Bim Bam! In this lyrics video, you can learn the popular Shabbat Shalom HEY song and get the family in the mood for Friday night dinner.

It’s not just a song – it’s our company name! BIM BAM, the production company that brings you Shaboom!, is proud to present our favorite Jewish songleader Isaac Zones in this singalong…so raise your voice, clap your hands and Shabbat shalom to you!

Thank you to our volunteer fake Shabbat dinner participants…
Simon Z, Gideon Z, Yali S, Levi S, Jo Ellen Pozner Zeitlin, Khanh Ly Ho, Jeremy Shuback and Sarah Lefton

Havdalah is the ceremony that closes Shabbat, and Eliyahu is the traditional song Jewish people sing as it closes before wishing each other a Shavua Tov – or a good week. The song is about Elijah the Prophet and the lyrics mean:

The lyrics mean:
Elijah the prophet, Elijah of Tishbi, Elijah of Gilead, may he soon come to us along with the Messiah, son of David.

Learn to sing Eliyahu and feel confident at your next Jewish gathering!

A blessing is a short moment out of time to express your appreciation for something or someone. Judaism encourages blessings for food, drink, study, washing your hands, using the bathroom – it goes on and on. But so many parents connect very deeply with the custom of blessing their children on Friday nights. It’s ancient and beautiful and easy to learn how to do. Whether you bless your child the traditional way, or add your own twist, it will be a highlight of the week for both of you.

Learn the Shabbat candle blessing with this karaoke video recorded and painted by kids in Kindergarten and Second Grade at Temple Isaiah in Lafayette, California.

“ברוך אתה ה״ אלוהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להדליק נר של שבת”
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha‑olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.
“Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with commandments and commanded us to light Shabbat candles.”

The development of this project was made possible by the generosity of the 

Learn the Hamotzi blessing that Jewish people say before eating bread made out of wheat, barley, rye, oats, or spelt flour. (And famously, challah, the special braided bread, on Shabbat!) The name of the Hamotzi blessing, by the way, comes from the Hebrew מוציא “he removes.”

This karaoke video was recorded and painted by kids in the third and fourth grades at Temple Sinai of Oakland.

The words they are singing are:

ברוך אתה ה’ א‑לוהינו, מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ.‏
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam, hamotzi lehem min ha’aretz.
Blessed are You, Adonai, Who brings forth bread from the earth.

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The development of this project was made possible by the generosity of the 

Get familiar with Jewish blessings and Friday night traditions with our singalong lyrics video created through a partnership with Moishe House and Taglit-Israel Birthright.

If you want to host Shabbat dinner at your home and you are not super familiar with the tunes or blessings, this sing-along Shabbat guide should get you up to speed in no time.

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