Embracing Shabbat in Your Home: Getting Started

So you've decided you want to deepen your observance of Shabbat at home... but where to begin? To help answer that question, we've gathered together a list of books and resources for you to refer to, share and enjoy.

NEW: Shabbat Blessings - see and hear a full list of blessings for your Shabbat observance.

Birkon Mikdash M'at: NFTY's Bencher edited by Jeremy Gimbel (URJ Press). A small, portable book of songs, prayers, and blessings for Shabbat and holy days.

An Invitation to Shabbat: A Beginner's Guide to Weekly Celebration by Ruth Perelson (URJ Press). Explore Shabbat step-by-step and blessing-by-blessing from candle lighting to Havdallah. Includes an audio CD.

Gates of Shabbat: A Guide for Observing Shabbat by Mark Dov Shapiro (CCAR Press). A guide for those who are unsure about the significance of Shabbat as well as those who are already committed.

More books ...

For Families with Children
Listen to audio of the Shabbat blessings, and download "Got Shabbat", a weekly publication to guide parents and children to celebrate Shabbat together.
Based on the Torah portion, these web-archived sheets include tips on how to have a family discussion with young children.
Creative Jewish holiday ideas.
Especially for Interfaith Families
by Moshe I. Sorscher (The Judaica Press). A practical guide for making the Shabbat experience more meaningful and intelligible for beginners and veterans alike. For synagogue prayer services it features parables, essays, selected transliterations and an explanation of various prayers.
Edited by Stephen J. Einstein and Lydia Kukoff with Lisa Edwards, Marjorie Slome and Hara Person (URJ Press). Standard teaching text for beginning Introduction to Judaism classes in Reform synagogues and institutions.
by Wayne Muller (Bantam). Written by an ordained minister, this book includes stories, poems and suggestions for practice that highlight the importance of Sabbath rest.
Adult Study Resources
edited by Barry W. Holtz (Simon & Schuster, New York, NY, 1986).
A quarterly magazine that conveys the creativity, diversity and dynamism of Reform Judaism.
Features articles about Shabbat as well as recipes, discussions and how-tos.
An online site of Jewish books for continuing adult study recommended yearly by the Union for Reform Judaism's Department of Lifelong Jewish Learning.
Music We Recommend  
The basic anthology of Shabbat repertoire for congregational singing, offering several musical settings for each piece of liturgy.
These first four volumes of the Shabbat Anthology series feature the latest renditions of contemporary Shabbat melodies heard in Reform congregations across North America.
Shireinu, an anthology available in various formats, features nearly 350 songs that are sung at Union for Reform Judaism camps, conclaves, kallot and retreats.
Shabbat Recipes  
Artist, author, and cook Lisa Rauchwerger serves up mouthwatering meals and memories in her delightful cookbook.
175 recipes for every course of the Friday and Saturday Shabbat meals. Embracing the cooking of the entire Diaspora, the book not only offers Eastern-European-derived treats like roast chicken, brisket, kugels, and cholents, but also Duck with Pomegranate and Walnut Sauce from Iran, Lamb Tagine from Morocco, Cauliflower Pie from Italy, among others.
Great recipes for all of the traditional Jewish and Israeli standards.