Sign In Forgot Password
Home

Big Friday

 

On Friday 24th 2017 we held our BIG FRIDAY NIGHT IN. This page was used to share information about the event. 

 

 

Tonight you can celebrate Shabbat at home or wherever you are, whether it's just you, or if you're with family and friends, with special materials and online resources.

We’ve provided lots of things to help you take part. You’re invited to choose as little or as much as you'd like. Enjoy welcoming in Shabbat with prayer and song; take some time to learn about Our Shabbat, Our History or Our Scrolls; and you can even begin with giving a little tz’dakah (a charitable donation).

Make a donation  - Tzdakah

We have provided the ability for you to make a donation to celebrate the Radlett Reform Big Friday Night In.

The funds from your kind donations will be shared between Leo Baeck College and Radlett Reform Synagogue.

Make a donation using Virgin Money Giving

Our Big Friday Map

First off, if you're going to be taking part in our BIG Friday Night IN please add yourself to the map.

Zoom out (+/- on the bottom right of the map) and hopefully you'll see just how BIG our community is!

Please add your location to the map, just click the + in the top corner of the map below.

On the night

 

Click here to go to our Friday night live on Facebook at 5pm or 7pm 

 

 

Here are some pre-recorded videos you can use to welcome shabbat when you're ready.

Remember, you are invited to join the discussion online at 8:30pm.  Just go to radlettreform.org.uk/bigfridaychat to join the discussion

 

1. We welcome Shabbat by lighting two candles.  

01 L'hadlik neir shel shabbat

Having lit them, you might focus by symbolically drawing the light in and then covering your eyes.
After saying the blessing we open our eyes and see the Shabbat candles burning bright.
Now Shabbat is here. Shabbat shalom!

 

2. Blessing over a cup of wine or grape juice. 

02 Kiddush for Erev Shabbat

We make shabbat holy by reciting ‘kiddush’, a blessing over a symbol of joy – a cup of wine or grape juice.

Some do this straight after lighting the candles; other wait until just before the meal (and Ha-motzi).

The Friday night Kiddush has three components:
(i) [Vay’chulu] a Biblical quotation about God’s Shabbat, resting on the seventh day after six days of creation.
(ii) [Borei p’ri ha-gafen] the regular blessing for ‘fruit of the vine’.
(iii) [M’kaddeish ha-shabbat] the blessing for the day of Shabbat.

 

3. Washing our hands and the blessing over bread.

03 N'tillat Yadayim and Ha-motzi

[N’tillat yadayim] Washing our hands (ritually – they should already be clean!) is a prelude to Ha-motzi, the blessing over bread. Because the two are so closely connected, there is a custom of not talking between n’tillat yadayim and ha-motzi.
Most people wash their hands and then recite the blessing while drying them.

There are two loaves of challah, a ‘double portion’ for Shabbat.

The first bit of challah symbolically begins the shabbat feast that might follow.

B’teiavon, enjoy your meal!

Learning

Big Friday Night In Packs

We have some packs you can use to spend some time learning more about Our Shabbat, Our History and Our Scrolls. Each pack has some questions you may want to use to think about or reflect on.

Remember, you are invited to join the discussion online at 8:30pm.

Additional useful material

You may also want to have a look at this Shabbat guide which provides a guide to a Shabbat at home and includes prayers and meditation for Shabbat.

Reform Judaism - Shabbat at Home

>Click here to go to the join the discussion in our chat<

For young families (and everyone!)

We have created some packs for young families. You may want to try out the recipes and activities.
 

Recipes

Challah bread recipe

Chicken soup with traditional matzo balls

Chocolate fondue with fruit platter


You may also want to have a look at this Shabbat family quiz.

Reform Judaism - Shabbat Family Quiz

 

Mon, 5 May 2025 7 Iyar 5785