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You start by setting the table.
Here are the things which should be included on your Shabbat meal table:
1. A table cloth - try a white one, it’s simple and
pure.
2. Candles on tray - the light of candles create a
special
 atmosphere; the tray prevents wax from dripping on your
white table cloth!
3. Challah on tray - Challah is a braided bread
(see recipe below).
Actually there is a tradition from biblical times of two
challoth.
This is particularly helpful if you have many hungry
people at the table.
Just make sure the Challah is edible! The tray prevents
crumbs from
falling all over the place!
4. Challah cover - a lovely tradition
5. Challah knife - although there are some who tear
the challah
with their hands (seriously!).
6. Salt shaker - probably pepper too
7. Wine - usually goes with special meals and this
is certainly one.
For shabbat use a sweet, red wine.
8. Kiddush cup - by now you should know what this
is!
9. A prayer book or Shabbat guide - if there is
anyone around who is
familiar with some of the ritual traditions of Shabbat
10. Table settings - dishes, silverware come in
very handy
when eating the food
Flowers are a great plus.
Here’s a beautiful description of a traditional Jewish home at the moment
that the family comes around the Shabbat table.
It was written by the Nobel Prize winning Hebrew author, S.Y. Agnon:
“How pleasant that Shabbat eve was ... The skies were full of
stars,
the houses full of lamps and candles, people were wearing their Sabbath
clothes ...: candles were alight in the house and the table prepared and
the fine smell of white bread, and a white tablecloth spread and
two Shabbat loaves on it, covered by a small cloth out of respect so
that
they should not feel ashamed when the blessing is said first
over the wine.
Father bowed ... and said, “A peaceful and blessed Shabbat,”
and mother answered, “Peaceful and blessed.”
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Work out the basics of your meal starting with the decision to have
meat or veggie or a combination.
· Salad
· Soup
· Main course with some vegetable on the side
· Desert
To a recipe for Challah
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