This week we meet at the JCC again and ended our session back at Or Ami for the Chanukah Boutique.

All of the parents were involved in special programming and the children were separated into different age groups. Students explored some of the different ways that we need to prepare for Shabbat, each age group in a different way.

As a family, read through this list of possible things we can do to prepare for Shabbat: baking challah, dressing up in nice, white clothes, washing your hands before eating (see special prayer below) cleaning your house , giving Tzedakah. Choose one or two things to try together this week to prepare for Shabbat. Record how it felt to do something new or different to prepare for the Kedusha of Shabbat.

Next, we explored some ideas about “What Shabbat can mean to someone”:

· The scenario is to imagine that an advertising agency is contracting you to make either a commercial or a print advertisement for their new campaign that advertises the kedushah of Shabbat. The ad agency has specified that the angle for both the commercial and the print ad is, “I Choose to honor the Kedushah of Shabbat Because…” Some possible angles: Because Shabbat is sign of my Judaism, a time for me to rest, an opportunity to spend time with family/friends, time to do the special things I can’t do during the week, etc. The ad agency has specified that either the commercial and print ad must include the symbols of Shabbat Evening (candles, kiddush (sanctification of wine/grape juice), and challah) and/or the blessings for each of these symbols. Examples of commercials are attached!

· Families should either create a print add or video-tape a commercial to be turned in.

Finally, families should answer the following questions together, also to be turned in!

1. What is the most important reason for you to honor the kedushah (holiness) of Shabbat?

2. Create a Shabbat Preparation Checklist for yourself. During the next 5 days, what steps can you take this week to prepare yourself and your family for Shabbat?

Prayer for hand washing:

Blessed art thou, Lord our God, Master of the universe,
who hast sanctified us with thy commandments, and commanded us
about washing the hands.

Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam,
asher kiddeshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al netilat yadayim.