Whether you are looking for videos, crafts, explanations, or more, jkidphilly is your one-stop-shop for all things Shabbat.
Come for the challah;
stay for the opportunity to spend meaningful and restful time with your family!
About Shabbat
Each Friday evening, families around the world begin the celebration of Shabbat. For many, the evening includes favorite foods, company for dinner, special songs, and blessings. On Shabbat, families take a break and spend time together and with the community. One Erev Shabbat (Friday evening) ritual that is both simple and beautiful is lighting candles to “usher in” the Sabbath and set it apart from the weekday world. Immediately after lighting candles, special blessings are said over the wine or grape juice, the challah, and in many families, over the children as well.
About Havdalah
On Saturday evenings, many families say goodbye to Shabbat with a short ceremony that includes ritual objects to help us remember the beauty of Shabbat as the day ends.
Havdalah, or “separation” in Hebrew, is Shabbat’s closing ritual, when three stars appear on Saturday evening. In a simple multi-sensory ceremony, with blessings over lights, wine or grape juice, and spices, Havdalah is an inspiring way to end Shabbat and start the new week as a family.
Everything you wanted to know about Shabbat — and more!
- Learn the “Why” and “How” of Shabbat.
- Learn about how one mom learned to incorporate the Blessing Over Children into her family’s life. Learn about this blessing through text and video.
- Watch this video on how to say HaMotzi (the blessing over challah).
- Watch this karaoke video on how to bless the Shabbat candles
- Learn the Reform and Traditional Kiddush (the blessing over wine and grape juice).
- Learn the Havadalah blessings
- Use a worksheet, conversation starter cards, and blessing cards to develop your Shabbat practice
- Learn about other Shabbat customs
Crafts and games for a super fun Shabbat
- The jkidphilly Shabbat Pinterest board is chock-full of fun ideas!
- Check out the jkidphilly calendar to see what we have going on for Shabbat.
- Plan a Shabbat Family Game Night
- Get moving with these active Shabbat-friendly games
- Unplug with these Shabbat activities
- Design your own challah cover
- Make your own Shabbat placemat or Bruchim HaBa’im (Welcome) sign
- Download these Shabbat coloring pages
- Check out these fun activities for celebrating Havdalah
Welcome Shabbat with challah and more!
- Use this recipe to make a basic challah!
- Braid your challah with these instructions
- Try these easy recipes for different kinds of challah
- Enjoy these kid-friendly chicken recipes
- No matter what you cook, plan a Shabbat picnic
Videos for all ages
- Learn about the different parts of the Shabbat Table with ShirLaLa.
- Wish Grover a “Shabbat shalom” with this Shalom Sesame video.
Settle into Shabbat through music
- Celebrate Shabbat with the PJ Library Spotify playlist.
- Check out Buzzy Walters’ “On Friday Night,” “Running to Get Ready for Shabbat,” and “Where Have You Been, Shabbat?”
- Play a song to get ready for Shabbat!
There’s nothing like a PJ Library book!
- Travel the globe with Around the World in One Shabbat: Jewish People Celebrate the Sabbath Together
- Check out these brightly-illustrated books about Shabbat
- PJ Library has lots of books about Havdalah!
Sign up for PJ Library and PJ Our Way, free, award-winning books that celebrate Jewish values and culture to families with children from birth through 12 years old.
Newborn through age 8:
PJ Library sends your child the gift of free, award-winning, Jewish children’s storybooks in the mail every month — a different one for each age group!
Sign up for PJ Library today!
Ages 9–12:
PJ Our Way is the next chapter of PJ Library for kids ages 9–12. PJ Our Way are chapter books or graphic novels, and kids get to choose which books they want to receive — for free! Check out the PJ Our Way website designed for kids, by kids.
Sign up for PJ Our Way today!