THE SABBATH DAY, or Day of rest, is observed weekly from sunset on the sixth day to sunset on the seventh day of the week according to the lunar calendar. According to the Bible and tradition, the Sabbath is a memorial of the day of rest enjoyed by YEHOVAH God after the Creation; its observance was enjoined by YEHOVAH, in one version of the Ten Commandments, to commemorate His bringing the Israelites out of the land of Egypt. Work must cease on the Sabbath Day and rabbinic legislation stipulates 39 types of action which are forbidden; however, these regulations may be set aside if human life is in danger. Yeshua the Messiah, in His teachings, shows that the Israelites placed so many regulations around the Sabbath Day that it became "a yoke of bondage." The Sabbath Day is an occasion for prayer, study, and refreshment of the spirit.

The Sabbath begins with the lighting of candles -- traditionally performed by women if present. A minimum of two candles are lighted (in many families, an additional candle is kindled for each child). Then a blessing is said: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe...who has commanded us to light the Sabbath candles."

After the candle lighting, the father customarily blesses the children. He puts his hand over each child's head, saying to the boys: "May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe" (the two sons of Joseph). When blessing girls, he says, "May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah."

The Sabbath starts with the lighting of candles and it concludes the same way. The meaning of the two ceremonies, however, is very different. While candles lighted on the evening of the sixth day symbolize the joy and "lightness" of the day that is just beginning, the candle that is lit on the night of the seventh day symbolizes a return to the workday world in which performing work is again permitted. Accompanying the sixth day night candle lighting are several other symbolic rituals, accompanied by a prayer. The ceremony is known as havdala, or "separation," the separation being that between the Sabbath and the weekdays.