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Deepen your understanding of Shabbat, awaken to the possibilities,
and experience the day with an extra measure of holiness.
Seventh Heaven delves into the art of consciously observing Shabbat—exploring many of the day’s traditional religious practices within the context of life’s spiritual dynamics. With the help and wisdom of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov—one of the most important of the early Hasidic masters—this guidebook offers insight into the deeper meaning and purpose of a broad range of Shabbat observances and seeks to show how each custom or law fits within the whole.
In accessible, easy-to-understand language, 7th Heaven is a spiritual guide for all levels of Shabbat observance:
- If Shabbat is new to you, or you’ve experienced it only in its popular form, but would like to deepen your understanding and connection.
- If Shabbat is something you grew up with, but you were never taught the inner meaning of all the customs and laws you were told to obey.
- If Shabbat has never been a part of your spiritual practice, but you would like to learn more about the Jewish pathway to wholeness and higher consciousness.
Based on the teachings of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810) and those of his closest disciple, Reb Noson, the deep insights into Torah and spirituality revealed by these great Hasidic luminaries are as relevant in today’s world as they were some two centuries ago, when they were first taught.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS • viii INTRODUCTION • 1 SHABBAT: ON THE WAY IN INTRODUCTION • 10 1. CHARITY AND EXPENSES • 14 2. REVIEWING THE TORAH PORTION • 17 3. TRIMMING THE NAILS • 22 4. BATHING AND IMMERSING IN A MIKVAH • 26 5. SPECIAL CLOTHING • 30 6. SAMPLING THE FOOD • 32 7. READYING THE TABLE • 36 8. PRIVATE, SECLUDED PRAYER • 39 9. SONG OF SONGS • 42 10. PSALM 107 AND THE MINCHAH PRAYER • 46 11. REFRAINING FROM CREATIVE LABOR • 50 SHABBAT: THE NIGHT INTRODUCTION • 56 1. CANDLE LIGHTING • 60 2. THE KABBALAT SHABBAT PRAYER (1) • 64 3. THE KABBALAT SHABBAT PRAYER (2) • 68 4. LEKHA DODI HYMN (1) • 72 5. LEKHA DODI HYMN (2) • 75 6. THE SHABBAT PSALM • 78 7.THE MAARIV PRAYER • 82 8. SHALOM ALEIKHEM • 88 9. THE FRAGRANCE OF MYRTLES • 92 10.THE KIDDUSH • 95 11. LECHEM MISHNEH–DOUBLE LOAVES • 100 12. THE FIRST MEAL • 104 13. ZEMIROT–SONGS • 108 14. MARITAL RELATIONS • 112 15. SLEEP • 114 SHABBAT: THE MORNING INTRODUCTION • 118 1. IMMERSING IN A MIKVAH • 122 2.THE SHACHARIT PRAYER • 126 3. READING THE TORAH PORTION • 129 4. READING THE HAFTARAH • 132 5. THE MUSAF PRAYER • 135 6.THE KEDUSHAH DECLARATION • 138 7.THE SECOND MEAL • 142 SHABBAT: THE AFTERNOON INTRODUCTION • 148 1.THE MINCHAH PRAYER • 154 2. READING FROM THE TORAH • 158 3. THE THIRD MEAL • 160 4. A TORAH LESSON • 164 SHABBAT: ON THE WAY OUT INTRODUCTION • 170 1.THE MAARIV PRAYER • 174 2.THE HAVDALAH CEREMONY (1) • 178 3.THE HAVDALAH CEREMONY (2) • 182 4. ELIYAHU THE PROPHET • 188 5.THE MELAVEH MALKA MEAL • 192 SOURCES • 197 GLOSSARY • 199 ABOUT THE BRESLOV RESEARCH INSTITUTE • 201 ABOUT JEWISH LIGHTS • 205