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Sayid Dabbah, who immigrated to Israel from Cairo, Egypt, with his wife and three children, is the scion of four generations of silversmiths. While destitute, but with great determination, Sayid with his son Avraham, founded and established Dabbah Judaica in 1974 as his life's dream, a silversmith with his own factory specializing in Jewish art. In 1985, his youngest son Benny, who was born in Israel, joined his father (Sayid) and oldest brother ( Avraham). With great patience and persistence the three of them established a studio in Hutzot Hayotzer, Jerusalem, which displayed handcrafted artistic religious articles in silver. In its creations, Dabbah's Sterling Silver Judaica incorporates many traditional and modern elements which are well known in the field of Jewish art. In 2004 Dabbah Judaica opened a new gallery in central Jerusalem on Yoel Salomon Street, in an area of art shops and fashionable restaurants
Shabbat (Hebrew: "rest" or "cessation") is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from sundown Friday until the appearance of three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact time, therefore, differs from week to week and from place to place, depending on the time of sunset at each location.
Shabbat recalls the Biblical Creation account in Genesis, describing G-d creating the Heavens and the Earth in six days, and resting on and sanctifying the seventh (Genesis 1:1-2:3). Shabbat is considered a festive day, when a person is freed from the regular labors of everyday life, can contemplate the spiritual aspects of life, and can spend time with family.
Traditionally, on that day three festive meals are eaten on Shabbat-eve, at lunch, and as an end-of-Shabbat evening meal. The day is also noted for those activities which are prohibited on Shabbat prescribed by Rabbinic Judaism. The Tanach and siddur (Jewish prayer book) describe Shabbat as having three purposes:
1. A commemoration of the Israelites' redemption from slavery in ancient Egypt
2. A commemoration of G-d's creations of the universe; on the seventh day G-d rested from (or ceased) his work
3. A taste of the world in Messianic times.
Judaism accords Shabbat the status of a joyous holy day. In many ways, Jewish law gives Shabbat the status of being the most important holy day in the Jewish calendar. Many Jews attend synagogue services on Shabbat even if they do not do so during the week. Services are held on Shabbat eve (Friday night), Shabbat morning (Saturday morning), and Shabbat afternoon (Saturday afternoon). With the exception of Yom Kippur, which is referred to in the Torah as the "Sabbath of the Sabbaths", days of public fasting are postponed or advanced if they coincide with Shabbat. Mourners sitting shivah (week of mourning subsequent to the death of a spouse or first-degree relative) outwardly conduct themselves normally for the duration of the day and are forbidden to display public signs of mourning.
According to Rabbinic literature, G-d via the Torah commands Jews to observe (refrain from forbidden activity) and remember (with words, thoughts, and actions) the Shabbat, and these two actions are symbolized by Shabbat candles late afternoon on Preparation Day (Friday; in most communities, eighteen minutes before sunset is customary) by Jewish women, usually the mother/wife, though men who live alone are required to do so themselves. It is customary to light two candles, although some families light more, sometimes in accordance with the number of children.
Although most Shabbat laws are restrictive (see below), the fourth of the Ten Commandments in Exodus is taken by the Talmud to allude to the positive commandments of the Shabbat. These include:
1. Honouring Shabbat (Kavod Shabbat) Preparing for the upcoming Shabbat by bathing, having a haircut, and cleaning and beautifying the home (with flowers, for example), or on Shabbat itself, wearing festive clothing and refraining from unpleasant conversation.
2. Recitation of Kiddush, or "sanctification," over a cup of wine at the beginning of Shabbat before the first meal and after the conclusion of morning prayers.
3. Eating three festive meals (shalosh seudot). Meals begin with a blessing over two loaves of bread (lechem mishneh), usually a braided challah, which is symbolic of the double portion of manna G-d gave the Jewish people on Preparation Days during their time in the desert after the exodus from Egypt. It is customary to serve meat or fish, and sometimes both, for Shabbat eve dinner and Shabbat lunch. The third meal, eaten late Shabbat afternoon, is called Seudah Shlishit (literally, "third meal"). This is generally a light meal and may be parve or dairy.
4. Enjoying Shabbat (Oneg Shabbat). Engaging in pleasurable activities such as eating, singing, spending time with the family and marital relations.
5. Recitation of havdalah, or "separation," at the conclusion of Shabbat at nightfall (over a cup of wine, and with the use of fragrant spices and a candle).
It is customary to avoid talk about money or business matters on Shabbat. Jewish law (halakha) prohibits doing any form of melachah (plural melachot) on Shabbat, with some exceptions. Though melachah is commonly translated as "work" in English, a better definition is "deliberate activity" or "skill and craftmanship".
There are 39 categories of prohibited activities (melachot) listed in Mishnah Tractate Shabbat Chapter 7, Mishna 2).
