Shema Yisrael (often called simply “The Shema”), the Biblical passage from Deuteronomy 6:4, is certainly the best known of all Jewish prayers. It is part of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. The phrase of course menas “Hear Israel”, and refers to the entire phrase “Hear O Israel, the Lord Thy God, the Lord is One.”. Even the New Testament quotes the Shema. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is asked by a scribe “What is the greatest commandment”. He replied with the “Shema”. Jewish events are almost always marked by several “brachot” or “blessings”. Since kindling of fire is forbidden on the Sabbath, the week is ended with candle-lighting, and then again the Sabbath is concluded with candle-lighting. The lighting of the fire indicates a separate between the holy and the common (or the secular and the profane). Officially, the candle-lighting blessing should occur 18 minutes before sunset on Friday. The Torah forbids “kindling a fire” on the Sabbath, so the day is marked by lighting a candle immediately before it begins, and ends with lighting a candle at the Havdalah service (see below). One of the most loved songs of Friday night is “Lecha Dodi”, which literally means “Come My Beloved”. The theme of this song is the bride and bridegroom - the Jewish people and God. It was composed in 1571 by Rabbi Shlomo HaLevi Alkabetz, renowned for his wisdom and poetry. Havdalah is a brief ceremony that marks the end of the Sabbath. It comes from the word “l’havdil” which means to distinguish or separate. Three blessing are recited as part of this service: 1) The blessing over the wine, 2) the blessing of the spices, and 3) the blessings over the fire (a special multi-wicked Havdalah candle it lit). The short Havdalah service includes three brachot (blessings). The first is over a cup overflowing with wine (or grape juice). The second is over spices, which remind us of the sweet smell of the Sabbath which is now departing till next week. The third is over the fire/light of a special multi-wicked candle-stick. Havdalah ends with a song about Elijah called “Eliyahu HaNavi” (Elijah the Prophet). Elijah’s name is involved in the hopes that he will come to usher in the final eternal Shabbat of the Messianic Age. It ends with the words: “Come to us, With the messiah, son of David.” Learn more about Sabbath songs and prayers at our Learn Hebrew Prayers web page.

Acts 2:20-21
The sun will be turned darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the end of the world lately. Not the normal doomsday variety, I’m not pre-trib, post-trib or anything complicated. I heard someone once say, we’ll all get it straight on the way up and that philosophy works fine with me. I’ve been thinking more about ‘Am I ready’. Kind of like the packing check list before a big trip. I know I’m saved so I can cross that one off the list but I’m starting to think that there is more preparation necessary.

I guess it really struck me the other day when my son called me to see the pretty sunset. I was busy, doing something important I’m sure. By the time I made it outside, it was gone. I sat there for a while playing the what-if game. What if the sun didn’t rise tomorrow? What if that was the last sunset I ever had the opportunity to see? Okay, maybe that does seem a bit doomsday but the truth is, that for many people that day it was the last. Of all the promises God has made us, tomorrow isn’t one of them.

My husband works with 345 kilovolts of electricity every day. My children are in public schools. I have four close family relatives with heart disease. I have a sister with MS, a sister with depression and a 20-year old sister that drives in Austin. Am I ready spiritually for the sun to set on these relationships? Did I do all I could to show them my love? Christ’s love? The eternal love of God?

It’s a knuckle-brained world out there and the truth is, I’m not ready. There is so much more to do, so much more to say than just good-bye. Thankfully, for me the sun did rise the next day. God gave me another opportunity and I will be eternally grateful for that. Maybe I didn’t get as much laundry done, or finish the rest of that all-important to-do list but it just didn’t seem so important anymore. I lost one sunset; I don’t intend to lose another.

Galatians 6:10
Therefore, as we have opportunity let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

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