Shabbat is a day of special significance for the Jewish man and his family.  It is a time when they gather together to welcome in the Shabbat with song and prayer.  This set contains the essential elements of Jewish tradition that will help you lead your family in the joyful celebration of Shabbat. 

In every Jewish home, the woman is central to the families spiritual life. On Shabbat, it is the woman, the wife, the mother who we honor and thank for her role in maintaining the family and our age long tradition. 

The Western Wall, the last remaining portion of King Solomon's Temple and the most holy place to Jews around the world.  These massive stones have witnessed, over the centuries, many momentous events, have been controlled by many nations until, finally, in 1967, the Wall was returned to its builders – the Jewish People.  Aside from the historical significance of the wall, another attraction to the wall stems from the perception of the wall as an appropriate metaphor for the struggle of survival of the Jewish people themselves. For just as the Jewish peoples' existence has been endangered over the course of history, the wall's existence has been threatened as well. The Romans burned the entire Temple but inexplicably left the outer wall unscathed. Remarkably, the wall still exists and just as remarkably so do the Jews. Today, millions of visitors from every nation come to pray at the Wailing Wall and to experience the Divine Presence that continues to touch the lives of all who seek to be touched by God in this very special location.

The grape and wine are one of the symbols of the Land of Israel and the Jewish people.  The blessing of the wine is an integral and important part of all Jewish ceremonies and events – weddings, births, bar and bat mitzvah and, the Shabbat. “Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.”

"Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth" is the traditional blessing made by Jews before eating bread.  It is also one of the most significant blessings in the Jewish religion, one said by the head of the household before any festive meal. In the desert, after the Exodus from Egypt, the manna did not fall on Shabbat. Instead, a double portion fell on Friday. By using two loaves of challah at Shabbat meal, we remind ourselves of the sanctity of Shabbat and that God will provide for our material needs! (Exodus 16:4-30).

The 10 Commandments – Originally inscribed on stone by God and given to Moses on the Mount of Sinai following the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt, the 10 Commandments are the most significant set of laws known to man and the foundation of many of the world's legal systems.  10 simple rules that encompass the entire scope of human life and our interaction with our fellow man.  In just a few short lines, the 10 Commandments provide us with an all encompassing code of behavior that will ensure a better life for us all.  This picture of Moses with the stone tablets will serve as a constant reminder of God's commandment to us all to live a good life, a better life, a life in which we honor not only Him, but also our fellow man – whoever and wherever he may be. 

The Wall, the last surviving segment of Solomon's glorious Second Temple, destroyed by the Romans before they expelled the Jews from the Land of Israel.  For over 2000 years, Jews around the world have prayed to Jerusalem and the Western Wall.

The clenched signifies strength and determination.  Over the millennia, wherever they have been, the Jewish people have been persecuted. The Roman's exiled us from the Land of Israel, the Spanish Inquisition drove the Jews from Spain and Portugal, across Europe Jews were persecuted because of their faith, the Nazi's brutally murdered more than 6,000,000 Jews during the Holocaust and, since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948,  our enemies have never stopped in the determination and efforts to destroy.  For Jews, the clenched fist against the Star of David send a message to those who sought to destroy us in the past and those who seek to destroy us today that we shall not give in, that we are strong, will remain strong and will not allow ourselves to be exiled or slaughtered as in the past.  

After the Great Flood, God commanded Noah to send forth a dove to seek out dry land.  According to tradition, the dove eventually returned carrying an olive branch – thus signifying that the Great Flood was over.  Over the ages, the dove and the olive branch have become a symbol of peace between men and nations.  It is also a symbol that symbolizes the State of Israel and the return of the Jewish People to their homeland after 2000 years of exile.