After weeks of preparing blessings and ritual objects, Beit Sefer students and their parents gathered this past Sunday to stage a mock Kabbalat Shabbat. Throughout the morning, students braided miniature challah loaves, placed candles in their candlesticks, and filled plastic wine goblets with grape juice.
Rav Gavrielle was gracious enough to lead alongside Head Teacher, Morah Emma Shimovich. The pair, with Emma strumming her guitar, guided families through the blessings and various Shabbat songs and prayers.
The concluding activity allowed students to spend time crafting blessings for their parents, which they then read aloud to the group. We all swayed to our familiar priestly blessing as the morning closed out, and we continued to go about our Sundays.
Many thanks to Rav Gavrielle, Morah Emma, and all of the Beit Sefer families for making our mock Shabbat a success!