what is shabbat dinner

Shabbat dinner is a meal that is part of the Jewish Sabbath, which begins on Friday at sundown and ends on Saturday at nightfall. It is a time for worshiping the Lord, honoring tradition, and spending time with family and loved ones. Shabbat traditionally includes three required meals: Friday night dinner, Saturday lunch, and the third meal in late afternoon. The Friday night dinner is the most popular Shabbat meal for non-Orthodox Jews. The meal usually consists of traditional foods, such as challah (braided bread), wine, fish, soup, meat and/or poultry, side dishes, and dessert. Some traditional foods that are Shabbat favorites include gefilte fish, chicken soup, baked chicken dishes, roasted brisket, slow-cooked meat dishes, kugel, roasted vegetables, grain dishes, and salads. It is customary to dress in clean, non-workday clothing and cover the table with a clean white tablecloth, representing spiritual purity, and use the finest place settings available. Jewish parents often bless their children before the meal begins as well. Shabbat dinner is a celebration of family and togetherness in addition to an observance of the Shabbat, so many families spend the dinner singing songs, playing games, or doing service together with their loved ones.