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Celebrated by increasingly more Christians, Rosh Hashanah is based on a holiday commanded for God’s people in the Bible. Biblically called Yom Teruah, in Leviticus 23:23-25 and Numbers 29:1-6, God says it’s supposed to be a Sabbath and should be celebrated by blowing trumpets and offering sacrifices.
But how can we, as Christians, celebrate this Holy Day? Here are some ways to honor God in His command and bring the vital meaning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Teruah into your Christian home and faith.
1. Read scripture
There are so many scriptures that relate to this Holy Day. It’s a day when we can be both thankful for the gift of forgiveness through Jesus and repentant of our sin. Some celebrate this as the day God created the universe. The story of Abraham being obedient in almost sacrificing his only son, Isaac, is often read. Here are some that I found inspiring and relevant to the concepts of Rosh Hashanah.
Genesis 1:1-2:3 and 22
Leviticus 23
Psalm 32 and 139:23-24
Micah 7:7-20
Isaiah 53
Jeremiah 31:27-40
Matt. 26:26-29
Luke 24
Acts 2 and 3:19-21
1 Cor. 11:26
1 Thess. 4:13-18 and 5
Hebrews 9
James 5:7-11
1 John 1:5-10
Rev. 22
2. Have a Tashlikh ceremony
From Micah 7:19, this is a Jewish custom symbolizing the “casting off” of our sins. Bread is thrown into running water. The bread symbolizes sin and is taken away and forgotten as our sin is when forgiven by God. As Christians, we can use this to remember that our sin has been paid for and removed by our Savior and Messiah as we confess it to him and put our faith in his ability to atone for it. My family has used oatmeal because it’s better for the animals that find and eat it, but some people use stones instead. It doesn’t matter what you use as long as it conveys the message that our sin can be cast off and forgiven if we accept the gift God gave us in Jesus.
3. Have a celebratory meal
While not required, as humans, we tend to celebrate with traditions concerning food. Dishes with apples are traditionally served during Rosh Hashanah, but any meal that everyone will love and come together over would work well. Here are a few ideas.
Brisket is a traditional Jewish meal for almost any holiday. These sliders are super easy, and my family loves them. You could even serve them on your round challah bread (see below)!
This side dish is traditionally served on Rosh Hashanah. It’s a sweet baked mixture of carrots and sweet potatoes that will make your house smell delicious!
Kugel is a decadent Jewish dish that will surprise you if you haven’t tried it before. I was wary of putting noodles into a dessert, but it’s fantastic!
This bread is served at many Jewish celebrations and on the Sabbath. Usually a straight braided loaf, it’s made into a round shape on Rosh Hashanah to symbolize a crown, reminding us of God’s kingship over the universe. Here’s how to braid round challah.
Just something fun to put on your challah bread! Yum!
4. Blow a Shofar
Rosh Hashanah is known Biblically as Yom Teruah or the Day of Trumpets. The trumpets they blew in biblical times and those used today are shofars or ram’s horns. Make a joyful noise with your own Shofar! Check out the link below to start shopping for one of your own.
God told His people to teach His truths to their children. As parents, grandparents, and other influential people in the lives of the children around us, we should take this command seriously, and the Biblical holidays are a great place to start! There are many resources to help with this, but observing these days will provide you with many moments open to teaching about them. Bible Pathway Adventures is one resource I often use to further teach my children about the Fall Feasts, and they have resources helpful in guiding other biblical concepts as well.
6. Do a craft with your kids
Crafts are a great way to teach your children about Rosh Hashanah and Yom Teruah. Hands-on lessons are wonderfully practical, and making a shofar is perfect for children! While their hands are busy creating, please take the opportunity to explain why you’re celebrating Rosh Hashanah and what the shofars have to do with it. Prepare by reading the verses in #1 above. A fast and fun shofar can be made simply by rolling a piece of construction paper into a cone shape. Secure it with tape, glue, or staples. Most children would also love to decorate the paper ahead of time. Some people use the blower part from a child’s party blower to make their shofar craft even noisier! You can get as creative as you like with this one.
Signifying the sweet blessings God will give us in the new year, apples and honey are the traditional sweet treats to eat on Rosh Hashanah. Apples are usually dipped in honey, although numerous recipes are made with both ingredients commonly eaten during this celebration. Honey apple cakes, cookies, and breads add a creative aspect to this tradition, but simple apples and honey will work well too. I’ll warn you to plan extra clean-up time if little ones participate in this custom! I learned that the hard way.
8. Share a pomegranate
While apples and honey signify sweet blessings, pomegranates symbolize many things. Frequently mentioned in the Bible, righteousness, fertility, and wisdom are among the meanings attributed to the pomegranate. The references to pomegranates in Song of Solomon are a reminder of the relationship between God and His people. They were woven into the hems of the garments of the Temple priests and carved into the columns – a design which was God’s idea!
9. Rest
The command for Rosh Hashanah (Yom Teruah) says it’s to be a Sabbath. Be intentional about having a restful day and do as much preparation ahead of time as possible so that that can happen. Prayer and reading the scriptures in #1 above (or others) should also be included. Here are some other ideas for things to do on a Sabbath.
Pronounced “sha-NA toe-VAH,” this is the traditional greeting used on Rosh Hashanah. It means literally “good year.” It’s also often said “L’Shana Tova,” meaning “to a good year” or “for a good year.” The response is the same right back – “Shana Tova”!
L’Shana Tova to you, and I hope you find this list helpful in your Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah celebration this year!
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As Christians who seek to incorporate the Hebrew roots of our faith into our lives, we often have a lot to learn about the Holy Days and how they relate to our faith. Although they occur at the same time of year, there are some significant differences between the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Teruah celebrations.
While Rosh Hashanah is the beginning of a year, the beginning of the cycle of months starts in the month of Aviv (also called Nisan). For example, this year is the year 5780, so this Rosh Hashanah will bring the first of the year 5781.
But the cycle of months, including the Holy Days, starts in the Spring, just 14 days before Passover. That can be unclear since those of us who have followed the Gregorian calendar all our lives are used to a new year and our cycle of months occurring simultaneously, but here’s some background on how that came about.
Perhaps most well-known as the Jewish New Year, the words Rosh Hashanah mean “the head of the year” (rosh = head, ha = the, shanah = year). It’s the first day of the calendar year and is celebrated on the first day of the seventh month of Tishrei.
But in Exodus 12:2, God said that the first month begins fourteen days before Passover, which is in the month of Aviv (Nisan). In the command for the observation of Yom Teruah (also called Rosh Hashanah today) in Leviticus 23:24, it’s to be celebrated on the first day of the seventh month, which makes it not the first month of the year but more than halfway through it. It’s the first month as far as the monthly calendar goes. The Bible doesn’t specifically mention the start of a new year in the command for this or any Holy Day.
The discrepancy is due to Jewish leaders adhering to Babylonian traditions. In developing the Hebrew calendar, Jewish leaders chose Rosh Hashanah as the beginning of the year for counting purposes. The Jerusalem Talmud says that even the names of the months on the Hebrew calendar came from Babylonia (Jerusalem Talmud, Rosh Hashanah 1b, 56d).
A New Year Celebration
Because many celebrate Rosh Hashanah as the beginning of a new year, the focus is on new beginnings and the year ahead. Pomegranates and apples dipped in honey are eaten on Rosh Hashanah to celebrate God’s provision and the sweet new year ahead. Some have a Taslikh ceremony, tossing bread into running water, symbolizing the casting off of sin for the new year.
A Day of Remembrance
Yom Teruah, as it’s called in Numbers 29:1, also known as the Feast of Trumpets, is commanded in Leviticus 23:23-25 and Numbers 29:1-6. The only specifics given in the command for observation of this Holy Day are that we’re to rest, have a holy convocation, make a teruah, and offer sacrifices at the Temple. The Bible also said we’re to be reminded, but it doesn’t specify what we should remember.
Although it’s most commonly translated as “blowing trumpets,” the word teruah is used in the Bible when a loud noise is made. It can be shouting or blowing trumpets (shofars). A teruah was made when God brought down the Wall of Jericho, and one will be the sound we hear when Jesus returns!
Without a Temple, we observe this day by remembering all God has done for us. We also look forward to Jesus coming and blow shofars to remind us of all God has done for His people and rehearse, looking forward to what it will be like when Jesus returns. Some even believe that Yom Teruah will be the day of the year Jesus comes back to earth.
The Ten Days of Repentance
According to Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah sets off the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, known as the High Holy Days or the Ten Days of Repentance. It’s believed that during these ten days, God takes account of each person’s actions and decides whose name is written in the Book of Life. Jewish people take this time to repent of their sins and do good deeds, hoping they’ll be added to the Book and spared from destruction.
As Christians, we believe that our faith in Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for our sin is what allows us to have our names written in the Book of Life; however, we can also use these ten days to reflect on our lives, repent of the many things each of us has done that is against the commands of our God, and re-align our lives with what He wants of us.
Both Rosh Hashanah, the start of a new year, and Yom Teruah, the day to remember and blow trumpets, have themes that can help Christians refocus and remember God’s blessings and provision and the return of our Savior. What a beautiful way to start fresh and look forward to the fulfillment of prophecy in our Bible! L’Shana Tova!
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More commonly known as the Jewish New Year, this Holy Day is not just a New Year’s Day but much more. It’s based on one of the seven commanded Feasts in Leviticus 23 and is also a time of repentance and proclamation of God as the king of the universe.
The Command
After the Israelites were rescued from slavery in Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, and received the commandments on stone tablets at the foot of Mount Sinai, they were instructed to build the Tabernacle. After its construction, God detailed how the Israelites were to perform sacrifices and offerings there, as well as other Tabernacle functions. After this instruction, God commands seven specific religious feasts and festivals. The Day of Trumpets is the fifth mentioned in the list of feast days and is a two-day festival that marks the beginning of the High Holy Days in Autumn.
Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month on the first of the month you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall not do any laborious work, but you shall present an offering by fire to the Lord.’” Lev. 23:23-25 (NASB)
Although commonly thought to be the same as Rosh Hashanah today, this day went by other names in the bible. “Rosh” means “head” in Hebrew, and “Hashanah” means “the year,” so the modern name Rosh Hashanah is more literally “the head of the year.”
Biblically, it’s called Yom Teruah (Num. 29:1), which can mean “Day of Trumpets” or “Day of Shouting .” This trumpet blowing or shouting wasn’t just random noise. The same type of shouting and trumpet-blowing brought down the wall of Jericho. It is more like a war cry or a victorious, joyful display.
The “trumpets” blown were ram’s horns, otherwise known as shofars. They are still used in this and other traditions today. Their sound is unique and fascinating, as is their appearance. Many Christians own one for use during Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah and other events.
A New Year
Rosh Hashanah is the New Year for the purpose of counting years. For example, on Rosh Hashanah 2019, the year, as far as the Hebrew calendar goes, will change from 5779 to 5780. This concept is not biblical but has been agreed upon for counting purposes.
It’s similar to the New Year celebration in America in that it’s considered a day to turn from our old ways and begin anew. Jews also view it as a type of Judgement Day, where God examines His people starting on Rosh Hashanah and over the next ten days. The final verdict of this judgment would then be delivered on the Day of Atonement, ten days later.
The Book of Life
Another thing celebrated on Rosh Hashanah is that our names have been written in the Book of Life. Traditionally, orthodox Jews believe that between Rosh Hashanah and the Day of Atonement, God weighs their actions and decides whether to blot their name from the Book of Life or leave it there throughout the following year.
While Christians view God’s judgment differently, we know that scripture states that the names of the righteous are in the Book of Life and have been there since before creation (Rev. 13:8 and 17:8). It also warns of what will happen to those whose names are not found there and those whose names are blotted out of it (Rev. 3:5, 17:8, 20:15, and Ps. 69:28).
Rosh Hashanah for
Christians
If our beliefs about judgment differ and we don’t follow the Jewish calendar, how is Rosh Hashanah relevant to the Christian faith?
The names of the righteous are those written in the Book of Life. Is that us? Are you righteous? Me neither! But we have Jesus! And if you, like me, have accepted him as the one able to bear and pay the price for the sin that made you unrighteous, then you appear before God as righteous as Jesus, who was perfect! So, yes, our names are in the Book, and that’s worthy of celebration!
As a celebration of God being the creator of the universe, we can be excited to participate. Even as Gentiles, Christians desire to give praise and glory to God as the creator and our judge. Our response to His judgment is our repentance and recognition of Jesus as our savior. We can celebrate God’s judgment because we know Jesus’s perfect sacrifice saves us.
The Awesomeness
of Trumpet Sounds
As Christians, the sound of the trumpet should remind us of the prophetic promises we’ve been given – of Jesus’s return and the rising of the dead in the last days.
“…in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” 1 Cor. 15:52 (NASB)
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.” 1 Thess. 4:16-17 (NASB)
Throughout the bible, there are some awesome things associated with trumpet sounds! Whether bad or good, the meanings and stories behind trumpet sounds all point to God’s supernatural glory! God should have the full attention of His people when the topic of trumpet sounds comes up. Big things are about to happen!
Casting Sin Off
One meaningful Jewish Rosh Hashanah custom that I love symbolizes atonement for sin. Called Tashlikh, from the Hebrew word “to cast,” it includes throwing bread into a flowing body of water. The bread represents our sin, and its destruction and removal by the water are reminiscent of the following verse.
“Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18-19 (NASB)
As Christians, we could benefit from a tangible reminder of how our sins have been cast off, forgiven, and taken away, leaving room for growth and renewal. This tradition would help concretize this concept in the minds of Christian believers and even more for our children.
The Binding of
Isaac
Another tradition is reading and discussing the “binding of Isaac” at Rosh Hashanah. Remember that story? In his old age, God told Abraham to sacrifice his long-awaited only son on an altar; the son prophesied to give Abraham numerous descendants. Out of obedience to God, Abraham obeys and starts the process of the sacrifice. Before Abe kills Isaac, God intervenes and provides a ram as a substitute (Genesis 22).
So, they celebrate God’s provision of a substitute for the required sacrifice of Isaac. Sound familiar? It should remind Christians of the substitute provided for us in Jesus when our sin required death as punishment. Wow!
Celebrating Rosh
Hashanah in a Christian Home
Christians have so many things to celebrate on Rosh Hashanah. How do we put that into action? There are many ways, but here are just a few to get you started.
This tradition encourages us to look forward to a sweet and blessed new year. Pomegranates symbolize righteousness, blessings, or the inner self, visible only to God.
Find a flowing water body and throw bread into it.
Discuss how our sin has been paid for and removed by our Savior and Messiah as we confess it to him and put our faith in his ability to atone for it.
Blow a shofar.
Since most Christian homes don’t already own one and they can be expensive, here is a possible option. It even comes with a guide for help on how to use it. I also found a shofar sound app for my phone in a pinch once, but it’s no substitute for the real thing!
Rest.
The Leviticus command for Rosh Hashanah says it is to be a Sabbath. Prepare food ahead of time, make certain household chores are out of the way, and fill the days with family and time with God.
Attend a service at your local Messianic Fellowship.
There are a growing number of both Messianic Jewish and Hebrew Roots Christian congregations around the U.S. Find one in your area and be prepared to worship and learn in a way you may have never experienced before!
Read scriptures relevant to the subjects covered in the celebration of Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah. Here are some that I suggest, but there are so many others!
Genesis 1:1-2:3 and 22
Leviticus 23
Psalm 32 and 139:23-24
Micah 7:7-20
Isaiah 53
Jeremiah 31:27-40
Matt. 26:26-29
Luke 24
Acts 2 and 3:19-21
1 Cor. 11:26
1 Thess. 4:13-18 and 5
Hebrews 9
James 5:7-11
1 John 1:5-10
Rev. 22
Spend time in prayer.
Confess sin and thank God for His forgiveness and promises – both fulfilled and yet to be. Pray Psalm 139:23-24 and be open to the things that come to mind that God wants you to change in your life.
Serve a round loaf of challah bread.
Straight loaves are eaten for the rest of the year, but a round loaf can signify the cyclic nature of the concept of a new year and crown. The crown is to celebrate God’s kingship over the universe. Need a recipe? Here’s the one I use, and here’s how to braid round challah.
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In addition, there’s a tradition that reminds us when the Sabbath is over, and we return to our regular week. It’s called Havdalah. In Hebrew, Havdalah means “separation” and celebrates what a blessing the Sabbath is. It’s a way of both saying our goodbyes to it and looking forward to next week’s Sabbath. As our God has asked of us, Havdalah is another way to remember the Sabbath. It’s also how we can keep it holy and set it apart from the other days.
The three essential elements of the Havdalah service are a cup of wine, a braided, multi-wick candle to light, and fragrant spices. Held on Saturday evening, just after sundown, the Havdalah service is typically held at home instead of in a congregational setting.
Like other traditions, the order of a basic Havdalah ceremony varies among households.
This blessing is the same one we say when we bring in the Shabbat called the HaGafen. Fill the cup to the very brim with wine. It’s okay if it overflows – that signifies our overflowing blessings. Recite the blessing, but don’t drink the wine until after the Havdalah service concludes.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Response: Amen)
At the Havdalah service, we smell pleasantly fragrant spices to remind everyone of the blessing we’ve been given in the Sabbath. Cloves and cinnamon are the most often used spices, but hyssop, anise, and other spices can also be used. A blessing is then said over the spices.
By lighting the havdalah candle, we remember two things – that light was the first thing created by our God and that the Sabbath is over, and we begin our work, our “creating.” Lighting the candle represents our first act or work of the week, as many don’t light candles on the Sabbath due to Exodus 35:3.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of the light of the fire.
The final blessing brings it all together. Havdalah is to distinguish the sacred from the common, the holy from the unholy. It states that the holy Shabbat has ended, and the work week has begun. This blessing praises God for separating. While this may seem strange, think of all the separating God does. He separated the light from darkness, the waters from the heavens, the seas from the dry land, the Sabbath from the rest of the week, His people from among the nations, etc.
In the command to keep the Sabbath, we must keep it holy. Keeping it holy means we’re to set it apart from the rest of the days of the week. Havdalah is one way to keep the Sabbath holy – we’re deliberately separating it from the other days of the week. Here’s the blessing over separation, called the Hamavdil.
In English:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who distinguishes between the holy and the profane, light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Blessed are you, Lord, who separates between the holy and the profane. (Response: Amen)
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, ha-mahv-dil ben ko-desh leh-chol, ben or leh-cho-shech ben yees-ra-el la-a-meem ben yom hash-vee-ee leh-sheh-sheht yeh-mei ha-mah-ah-seh. Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai ha-mahv-dil ben ko-desh leh-chol.
(Response: “Amen”)
The End of the Shabbat
After the blessings, take a drink of the wine. The havdalah candle is then extinguished in the wine that overflowed from the cup, symbolizing that the Shabbat is now over. Everyone can now wish each other a “Shavua Tov” – a good week!
A Havdalah service is important because it separates the holiness of the Sabbath from the other days of the week. Instead of just being another day, the Sabbath is separated with the Shabbat service on Friday evening and the Havdalah on Saturday evening. This clear separation is not only one way we can honor God’s command to keep the Sabbath holy. It’s also a way to align our week with His calendar and receive even more blessings by living according to His ways!
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Shalom! I’m so glad you’ve decided to observe a traditional Messianic Sabbath evening. I hope it becomes one of your family’s most-loved traditions, as it has in mine.
The Sabbath is not only one of the 10 Commandments; it’s a sign that we are God’s people (See Ez. 20:12, 20). By keeping the Sabbath, we’re not only being obedient to God but also showing our faith in who He is to us through our actions. Doing so brings glory to Him.
This guide provides a fundamental overview of a traditional Sabbath. Every family observes the Sabbath a bit differently, so feel welcome to use this as a guide and tailor it to work best for your family. Whatever you do, keep the focus on God and keep the day set apart for Him.
Friday is commonly known as Preparation Day because this is usually the time to prepare everything so everyone can rest on the Sabbath. Cleaning, food preparation, etc., are done in advance so everyone can rest, focus on God, and spend time with family.
Instead of days beginning at midnight like we’re used to in our culture, days on the Hebrew calendar start at sundown. So, the Sabbath is from sundown on Friday evening until Saturday evening.
Light the Candles
The woman of the house is usually responsible for lighting the candles and bringing in the Sabbath. Two candles are lit to signify the two commands given regarding the Sabbath—to remember it and to keep it holy.
Although not required, women traditionally cover their heads during the blessing as a symbol of humility before God. The woman covers her head with a head covering (scarf), lights the candles, and says the following blessing.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to be a light to the nations and Who gave to us Jesus our Messiah, the light of the world.
Different blessings are said over boys and girls, and the Aaronic Blessing follows both. The father usually says these blessings, although anyone can bless the children.
The blessing for the boys comes from Genesis 48:20, where Jacob said, “By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!'”. The blessing over girls holds them high that they would become like some of the most remarkable women in the Bible
The Blessing over the Wife comes from Proverbs 31, verses 10-31. Interestingly enough, this blessing is also said over women who are not married. This blessing shows appreciation for wives and all women for all they do to hold homes and communities together! The husband usually says it, and it is as follows.
The Kiddush reminds us why we’re doing what we’re doing. It incorporates verses from Genesis that discuss the Sabbath, as well as a blessing over the wine and thanking God for choosing and sanctifying the nation of Israel. The man of the house traditionally says it.
The person saying the Kiddush holds the cup of wine up while reciting it. After the Kiddush is said, each participant can either take a drink from a single Kiddush cup or their own wine/juice glasses.
And it was evening and it was morning, the sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all their hosts were completed. And God finished by the Seventh Day His work which He had done, and He rested on the Seventh Day from all His work which He had done. And God blessed the Seventh Day and made it holy, for on it He rested from all His work which God created to function.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Response: Amen)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has hallowed us with His commandments, has desired us, and has given us, in love and goodwill, His holy Shabbat as a heritage, in remembrance of the work of Creation; the first of the holy festivals, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and with love and goodwill given us Your holy Shabbat as a heritage. Blessed are You Lord, who hallows the Shabbat. (Response: Amen)
The Hamotzi is the blessing over the bread. We usually sing it together, and one person holds the challah, plate and all, up while we sing. After the Hamotzi, the bread is set down to be eaten later. It’s often eaten by tearing pieces off and dipping them in the wine or juice.
Here’s the traditional tune:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth.
After that, enjoy your meal together and have a restful Sabbath! If you’re looking for ideas for what to do with the rest of your Sabbath day, read What DO We Do on the Sabbath.
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What does keeping the Sabbath look like? The fourth commandment is clear, and numerous other places throughout the Bible make it evident that God finds observation of the Sabbath something all His people should do. Keeping the Sabbath means, in part, not working on that day. We are to refrain from our vocation as well as other work.
“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.”
What we’re not supposed to do on the Sabbath is clear, but what isn’t exactly clear is what we DO on that day. When we don’t work, do we just lay around and watch TV all day? Should we take a vacation? Run errands? Go to church?
There are a few places we can go to find these answers. We can read the Bible and determine what Sabbath observance should look like. For practical application, we can learn from Orthodox Jews, who have been observing the Sabbath since Old Testament times. Learning from both leads to a more solid understanding of many Biblical customs, and the Sabbath is one of them.
What does a Jewish Sabbath look like?
They observe the Sabbath on Saturday.
When God commands that the Sabbath should occur on the seventh day, the Jews take Him at His word and keep the Sabbath to the seventh day of the week, Saturday. Jewish days start around sundown, so the Sabbath is from Friday evening to Saturday evening.
They take the command not to work as a declaration of their freedom from slavery, as slaves don’t usually get days off. When God freed them from slavery to the Egyptians, he took them as His people, establishing His covenant with them. The sign of this covenant is the Sabbath (Ex. 31:16 and Lev. 24:8).
They attend synagogue services.
They attend services as a family on either Friday evening or Saturday morning, or both.
They study God’s word.
The Torah is read during Friday evening and Saturday morning services. Orthodox Jews also study Torah as a family on Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons.
They spend time with family.
The Sabbath is a leisurely affair, with taking walks, playing games, and hanging out together making up much of the day. They have meals together, with blessings for the food, the Sabbath, and each other.
There’s a definite beginning and end.
They light two candles when it begins, indicating that the family should remember and observe the Sabbath. A small ceremony called Havdalah marks its end to separate it from the other days of the week.
What the Sabbath Looks Like at My House
My family has adopted many of these customs to our Sabbath. When we first began, it wasn’t easy to implement. Not working on Saturdays was difficult, but once I figured it out, having a day of free time was a welcome change! We gradually changed our focus to fill our Sabbath with bible study, family time, and rest.
Keeping the Sabbath has been such a blessing to my family. Our culture is nonstop. While this allows us to be very productive, many American Christians have trouble finding time for what they claim are the most important in their lives—their family and faith. True Sabbath observation helps properly align our priorities. When done correctly, the Sabbath becomes a day in one’s schedule where the top priorities stay on top—every week, every year, for generations.
Here are a few things my family does on the Sabbath:
Eat simple snacks and meals that we prepared in advance
Have a family outing, such as going to the zoo or botanical gardens
Wish each other and others a “Shabbat Shalom!” or peaceful Sabbath
Our Friday evenings are getting more organized as Sabbath observation becomes routine. Each family member has specific roles on the Sabbath and looks forward to participating.
Although we have activities and school that day, Friday is Preparation Day. We spend most of the day preparing for the Sabbath (Shabbat in Hebrew), the day’s focus. Without Preparation Day, preparing everything for a peaceful Sabbath is tough.
Each child (over 5) receives a Shabbat Prep Checklist on Friday morning. Their schoolwork, daily activities, and the chores they’re responsible for are on it. They have chores like cleaning their rooms, choosing clothes for the next day, showering, and cleaning bathrooms. Doing these things on Friday allows for an evening and the following day, free to relax and enjoy family time.
My Shabbat Prep Checklist includes making meals for that evening and the next day, making challah bread, laying out clothing for the younger children and myself, cleaning the house, finishing laundry, etc. I also ensure the table is set for our Sabbath meal and the necessary items are out (candles, candleholders, challah cover, decorative platters, etc.).
Here are the type of candles we usually use and a pretty cover for the challah bread similar to the one below.
We light our Sabbath candles and say blessings around dinnertime. Usually, this is done just after sunset at the start of the Sabbath, a job commonly reserved for the woman of the house. My oldest daughter says the prayer after I light the candles. She covers her head with a headscarf to say the blessing, which is a sign of respect for God.
After the blessing over the candles, my husband blesses the children and me. The blessings are our favorite part of the Sabbath! My kids wait expectantly for their turn to be blessed. It’s touching when my husband says Proverbs 31, a blessing over me. There’s so much value in my kids watching him do this week after week! You can find out more about the blessings here and here.
After this, my husband says a prayer, and we eat. My husband usually has a subject to discuss related to the Sabbath, that week’sparsha, or just life in general. I try to choose a family favorite for the Friday evening meal to avoid any struggles over the little ones eating their dinner! Afterward, we always watch a movie as a family, complete with popcorn.
On Saturday mornings, we either attend our Messianic Jewish Synagogue or do something recreational as a family. Saturday mornings are usually slower than mornings of other days, allowing time for bible study and rest. The Sabbath afternoon is often lazier than others, with naps and more study time being common activities.
We have an evening meal, then clean up after our restful day. We even include a Havdalah ceremony to wrap up our Sabbaths.
Although our Sabbaths are free of work, we have plenty to do on Saturdays – the most important things! With the week’s work out of the way, we fill the day with much-needed rest, study of God’s word, and family time. What used to be an extra workday or a day to catch up on chores and household projects has become our most treasured day of the week. The best part is that keeping the Sabbath shows we’re in a covenant with the God of the universe, and we’re His people! What a marvelous blessing!
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Challah bread is a beautiful and delicious Jewish bread eaten on Shabbat (the Sabbath), holidays, and other special days (except during Passover). It is made from a heavy dough that is separated and braided. A topping is usually added before baking—poppy seeds and sesame seeds are common.
Most Americans pronounce it “hallah” bread, but the “ch” at the beginning of challah is the Hebrew letter “chet” pronounced like the “ch” at the end of Bach. It’s a guttural sound, typical in Hebrew, a harsh sound made in the throat—practice for a minute. Now, practice with your kids. They’ll love it.
After braiding, I double this recipe and put the loaves I am not using for that evening in the freezer to save work on the following Shabbat. They will take a few hours to defrost and rise, so allow that if you freeze yours.
I adapted this recipe from Susan Marcus’s book Enter His Gates. This book is written for Christians who desire to return to their Jewish roots. It contains recipes, traditions, holidays, and more, all explaining how they’re relevant to the Christian faith. I highly recommend it!
I use a 6-strand braid, but a 3-strand braid also looks beautiful. I will include a video for the 6-strand braid soon, so stay tuned!
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
Does God really care that much whether we keep the Sabbath? What difference does taking a day off work make? Couldn’t we take a vacation for rest or worship Him at any convenient time?
A basic rule of Bible study is to pay special attention to the things God repeats in His Word. The concept of the Sabbath is repeated numerous times, beginning at the very beginning when God rested after the creation of our universe. Sabbath keeping is worded as a command 27 times, and there are many other places where it is discussed further. It’s not only one of the Ten Commandments; God also calls it a sign of the covenant between Him and His people forever!
I want to point out that I know the subject of the Sabbath creates some division among Christians. There are Godly Christ-followers on both sides of the Sabbath conversation, and many have strong feelings about it. I’ll present here the conclusion my family has reached in our pursuit of God’s will in our lives, and I hope these words will fall on open ears and hearts, no matter your beliefs on the issue. Like every other aspect of the life of a believer, we must take our questions to God and His Word and use our discernment through the Holy Spirit to decide what we do and do not do.
That one’s pretty simple. Remember it and keep it holy. Got it.
Then it gets more serious.
Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.
“For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the Lord; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.
While we don’t put those who ignore the Sabbath to death, these verses make it obvious how God feels about it. Besides being commanded by God, violating the Sabbath carried a stiff punishment in Old Testament times.
Looking at what God says about the Sabbath through His prophet Ezekiel (Ez. 20-23) is even more sobering. He considered wiping out the entire nation of Israel for profaning the Sabbath and rejecting God’s other ordinances. Yikes!
But why does He care so much? Why does my taking a day off of work – or not – make any difference to God?
The Sign of the Covenant
The Sabbath isn’t just a day of rest. It’s a sign that we belong to God.
I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.
God created all people, and many claim to belong to Him, but He clarifies in His Word that keeping the Sabbath is the sign that we acknowledge that He’s our God and we’re His people.
I’ve heard baptism metaphorically explained like a wedding ring. Accepting Jesus as your Savior seals your place in the Kingdom of Heaven. Baptism is your outward expression of that decision to the world, just as the wedding is what makes you married, but the ring is how you show that decision to the public.
The Sabbath is much the same. When we accept Jesus, we belong to God. He is our God, and we are His people. Keeping the Sabbath is the external signal to God, the world, and ourselves that we’ve made that decision. Ignoring the Sabbath is like keeping our relationship with God a secret. We may indeed be His people, but we’re unwilling to expose that to the public in the action of observing the Sabbath.
I want to make this part very clear. Keeping the Sabbath doesn’t save us! Belief in Jesus as the only sacrifice for our sin does (Rom. 10:9-10). However, when we fail to keep the Sabbath, we give up the opportunity to show God and those around us who we belong to. That’s why it’s so serious.
Didn’t Jesus Work on the Sabbath?
Jesus and his disciples gathered grain on the Sabbath as they traveled. While this was permitted by law, the Pharisees tried to trap Jesus since he did it on the Sabbath. But gathering grain wasn’t against any biblical command concerning the Sabbath. Not gathering grain was a Rabbinical addition to God’s command. When asked about this, Jesus didn’t say, “I’m here now, so the Sabbath is no longer relevant.” Although this would have been the perfect time to point out that we no longer needed to keep the Sabbath, he instead tried to teach them what God says about mercy (Matt. 12:1-8).
Did Jesus’s Crucifixion and
Resurrection Nullify the Sabbath?
Nowhere in his recorded words does Jesus say to stop keeping the Sabbath – before or after his resurrection. In fact, Jesus says that he came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). He clarified that the Law isn’t gone because of his arrival on Earth or his work on the cross. He’s the Messiah, the one who kept every one of the commands in the Torah – The Holy Days, the 10 Commandments, eating a Kosher diet, Keeping the Sabbath, all of it. We could say he just did those things because he was born of Jewish heritage, but remember that it was his perfect keeping of these “Jewish” laws that made him the only one on Earth throughout history that qualified as a sacrifice for the sin of all. Let that sink in.
The Sabbath is Forever
If the Sabbath was meant to be temporary, why didn’t God say that? Sabbath-keeping was such a big deal in both the Old Testament and among the Messianic Jews who made up the early church; why didn’t God clarify that it was no longer necessary?
Exodus 31:16, Leviticus 16:31, and 24:8 all say that the Sabbath is permanent. It doesn’t say that it will be abolished when the Messiah comes or that it’s only necessary during the wandering in the desert or while the Temple is standing. It’s forever—throughout all generations of God’s people.
The Ten Commandments, including the fourth—the one about the Sabbath—were given to the Hebrew people, later called the people of Israel. In other places, such as Isaiah 56, it was stated that foreigners would receive blessings from keeping the commands of God—the Sabbath and others. Exodus 20:10 says that even a sojourner staying with a Hebrew should observe the Sabbath with the rest of the household.
Unless you’re Jewish by heritage, you’re a Gentile and cannot change that by obeying the commands God gave to Israel. However, the apostle Paul lays out how we’re grafted in to the promises God gave Israel through our faith in Jesus. It’s important to realize that, because of this, the promises, commands, and blessings God gave to Israel are now extended to us as well.
For All God’s Creation
The Sabbath is not only for people everywhere but also for other parts of God’s creation. He commands that the land and livestock should also have a Sabbath. Many places say this, and here are a couple.
but the seventh day is a sabbath of the Lord your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you.
We all know why it’s essential for humans and even animals to rest, but God also sees benefit in the land itself taking a break from its job of producing.
But it’s not just creation that takes a Sabbath. We can look back at Genesis to remind us that even the Creator Himself took a Sabbath after His miraculous creation work. Chapter 2 tells us that that’s when He blessed the day, making it holy, as only God can do.
You may be feeling awkward right now if you learned something new about the Sabbath or have recently been convicted of not keeping it God’s way like I was. Don’t throw in the towel, though. Just because those around you don’t keep the Sabbath or think it’s optional or unimportant to God doesn’t mean you have to follow their path. Even if you’ve never kept the Sabbath, here are a few things to set you on your way to a peaceful and God-pleasing one.
Consult God.
While we know this should be where we start in any step we take in our faith walk, we sometimes forget it. Ask God what He wants for you and your family regarding the Sabbath. Be ready to hear His answer, even if it may not be what you were expecting. Dig into His Word to see what He has to say about the Sabbath, and ask Him to show you what that should look like in your life.
Get started.
When our family got serious about Sabbath-keeping, it wasn’t easy at first! We had to restructure our whole week to incorporate the Sabbath, and it took a few years to get it right. We’re not perfect at it now, but we regularly have holy, peaceful Sabbaths and continue to learn and grow more toward that each week.
Here’s what my family does on the Sabbath to give you ideas of where to start. Don’t strive toward your expectation of what a Sabbath should look like. Instead, make it a day to grow closer to God, your family, and others. Continually learn and grow in the direction God takes you.
Embrace tradition.
Our family finds it most beneficial to observe a traditional Jewish-type Sabbath. While this may not work for all families, it has given us the focus, discipline, and other tools we needed to make Sabbath-keeping a tradition in our home. Learning about and employing one Sabbath tradition at a time may help everyone adjust.
Prepare.
Keeping the Sabbath doesn’t work well without this one—trust me—I’ve tried! Make a list of things that need to be done ahead of time to ensure the Sabbath is as work-free as possible. Organize that list according to when each item can be done and spread the work over the days of the week. Planning this way will prevent you from trying to squish a week’s worth of chores and cooking into your Friday afternoon, causing you to arrive at the Sabbath worn out and stressed.
The Bible clearly shows that the Sabbath is essential to God and should be to us. Just that should cause us to take our Sabbaths seriously and remember them as God told us to. But Jesus also pointed out that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath (Mk. 2:27). While we do it to show that we belong to God, we also keep the Sabbath because we know we’re all in desperate need of some quality rest – both the kind you get from taking a day off of work and the perfect and eternal peace we can only find in our Savior.
If you’d like further information on how to observe the Sabbath in your Christian home, this book is just what you need. Susan Marcus explains Jewish Roots simply yet practically in Enter His Gates. I’ve used it a lot, especially as a Sabbath newbie, and I think you’ll also find it beneficial!
This post contains affiliate links. I only advertise items I personally recommend and may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. For more information, visit our Affiliate Information Page.
When making Shabbat (the Sabbath) a tradition in your home, nothing is more challenging to overcome than meals. While we may take a day off, our appetites don’t, and meals are a lot of work, not to mention the cleanup afterward!
Although it takes some planning and preparation, Shabbat meals can be delicious and low-maintenance. Here are 10 of my family’s favorite meals that either can be prepared the day before or require very little preparation and cleanup.
A note when cooking casseroles prepared the day before and chilled overnight – give them some time to come up to room temperature or expect to cook them for a longer time in the oven than the recipe says to ensure they’re fully cooked.
We make a couple of boxes of these at a time and freeze them so they can be warmed for a quick and easy breakfast. Since they’re high in protein, they’re more substantial than regular pancakes or muffins; they’ll keep everyone satisfied until lunchtime!
This recipe is just your basic Tater Tot Casserole recipe made more breakfasty using turkey sausage (not the breakfast sausage that this recipe calls for) instead of ground beef and adding eggs and cheese. I make it the night before and cook it in the morning.
While this can’t be put into the health food category, it’s a hearty comfort food that will satisfy everyone. This recipe is another dish I make the night before and cook in the morning. It’s also great to bring to a breakfast potluck. If you do, chances are good that all you’ll bring home is an empty dish!
Parfaits
No recipe is needed here. Parfaits include your favorite yogurt, topped with fruits, nuts, and granola. My children would eat this every day of their lives if they could!
Egg and Veggie Scramble
No recipe is needed here, either. We scramble a bunch of eggs, then add a cooked or steamed vegetable like broccoli, spinach, or potatoes. We’ve also added turkey sausage or smoked beef sausage to this flexible dish. Each member of my family spices their scramble differently. They like Srichacha Sauce, tarragon, Tajin seasoning, or just salt and pepper.
This dish is a favorite in my house. We vary it by adding gold tomatoes or different cheeses or veggies. And we always have to double the recipe to see that everyone gets their fill.
A regular meal in my family, this one can be made ahead by cooking the chicken and cutting the veggies the day before, so all you have to do before the meal is mix all the ingredients. Don’t mix it ahead of time, though. If combined, sitting overnight or even for a few hours in your fridge will make the croutons mushy and the cheese – well – it’s unappetizing. Mixing and dressing it just before serving for a tasty and healthy meal is quick and easy.
I’ve made these in both the slow cooker and the Instant Pot. You can make it ahead of time or prepare the ingredients so that it’s quick and easy to make on Saturday morning (slow cooker) or afternoon (Instant Pot) to be ready for a hearty lunch or dinner.
One of my children requests this meal whenever he’s given a choice. It’s an easy meal because you can add all ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low, although this recipe says to cook on the stove. It goes well with cornbread, tortilla chips, or tortillas.
I have to admit I made this one up. But it’s an easy meal we have so often – both on Shabbat and other days – that it must be mentioned here. You can serve it vegetarian or add chicken or beef to make it more of a main dish.
This vegetarian option can also be made the day before and cooked before the meal. It’s hearty for a vegetarian meal and can feed many people!
Snacks/Light Meals
Charcuterie Platter
This snacky appetizer is our absolute favorite Shabbat meal. It’s basically a meat and cheese platter, and there’s even a board made to serve all of this deliciousness. We add all sorts of things to our plate: beef and turkey sausages, various cheeses and crackers, fruits, berries, nuts we love, olives, and dolmas. You can go all out on this one or choose a few of your family’s favorites.
We often use vanilla yogurt as a fruit dip, but if we’re feeling like making something special, this Apple Dip recipe is one we’ve used many times. Some great dippers are Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples.
Chips and Salsa
This snack is a no-brainer but can be made special for Shabbat with some homemade Tomatillo Salsa or Guacamole as a more hearty dip.
Does your family have a favorite Shabbat meal? Leave it in the comments!
