Lotty's Lace Tablecloth

Lotty's Lace Tablecloth shows us that Judaism is more than a religion. It's a way of life and the Sabbath day is a great example.  Work is hard.  Everyone needs a break from it; everyone needs a "Day of Rest." By establishing a set day for this much needed rest, Judaism also reveals the necessity for a framework in which to live. Arbitrarily choosing a different day of rest each week doesn't work since consistency is a much-needed element. Consequently, when you prepare for a specific day of rest, you build up a momentum that makes the day special and gives it a special aura.

 

Create Something Special for Shabbat

 

Make a Challah Cover
Buy cloth napkins, small lace accessories, paints suitable for drawing on cloth plus other trimmings that can be glued on to cloth. Alternatively, create your own Shabbat design and embroider it on to the cloth.

Create Sabbath Napkin Rings
Make a set of festive Sabbath napkin rings using gold corrugated paper, small lace trimmings, silver paper for drawing and cutting out a Star of David or other creative accessories that can be glued on to the ring.

Create Your Own Shabbat Siddur
Make copies of the important prayers associated with welcoming the Sabbath. Put them together in booklet form and make a special cover. You'll need heavy paper, pencils, crayons and/or watercolor paints for this.

 

Lotty's Lace Tablecloth is also about exploring family roots through a family heirloom.

 

Dor le Dor Heirloom Project

Every family has a special heirloom. Find one that connects to Shabbat and place it on a table. Gather the entire family around the table – grandparents, parents and children. Grandparents will explain how this heirloom came into the family. Parents will explain the role the heirloom played in their life when they were children. And the children? Ask them what this heirloom means to them. At the end write the story of the heirloom on a card and put it on display next to the heirloom.

 

Don't Have An Heirloom?

Now's the time to dedicate a specific item you use on Shabbat as a special family piece that you want to hand down from one generation to the next. Make sure you write up its story: when it first came into your family, why it is so special, what it means to you and your children.

Shabbat Around the World

We Jews are a diverse people, with communities all over the world creating engaging Shabbat customs.

You can learn about them through my unique,
digital-story / lesson-plan series that
It Gets You and Your Students Involved!
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