Discover a Jewish tradition
🕯️ Shabbat for kids
Shabbat is the weekly Jewish day of rest, beginning on Friday evening and ending after nightfall on Saturday. It offers a regular pause for family, community and attention to what matters beyond the busy week.
Many families welcome Shabbat with candles, a blessing over wine or grape juice and bread called challah. Customs and levels of observance differ. A child can help set the table or share something they are thankful for.
Prepare the printable matching activity before Shabbat if your family avoids writing on the day. There is no once-a-year Shabbat date: the calendar below shows the next weekly occurrence and an example at the start of next year.
Shabbat returns every week
Next weekly Shabbat
Begins: Fri, November 6, 2026 at sunset
Ends: Sat, November 7, 2026 at nightfall
First Shabbat ending in 2027
Begins: Fri, January 1, 2027 at sunset
Ends: Sat, January 2, 2027 at nightfall
Dates begin on the preceding evening. Candle lighting is before sunset when welcoming Shabbat; exact local times require a location. These dates are not candle-lighting times.
Calendar reference: Hebcal holiday calendar. Dates are calculated with the site's Hebrew calendar conversion.
A blessing to learn together
Lighting Shabbat candles
Candles are lit before sunset. Exact times and the order of blessing and lighting follow local practice.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל שַׁבָּת.
Transliteration
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetsivanu lehadlik ner shel Shabbat.
Meaning in English
Blessed are You, Lord our God, ruler of the universe, who made us holy through Your commandments and commanded us to light a Shabbat lamp.
Traditional Hebrew wording reused from the site's blessing collection; English translation written for this page. This is a learning excerpt, not a complete service. The Hebrew spelling ה׳ stands for the divine name; follow your teacher's practice when learning aloud.
Shabbat coloring pages
There is no dedicated Shabbat coloring drawing in the existing collection. Use the printable word-matching activity below to explore candles, bread, a cup and rest.
Match the holiday words
Learn four words in English and Hebrew. Point to each pair together before trying the mixed-up version. The second printed page is an answer key.
candle — נר
bread — לחם
cup — כוס
rest — מנוחה
Frequently asked questions
How often is Shabbat?
No. It returns every week, and can also coincide with a festival. Candle-lighting times depend on your location and are before sunset.
Can I print the Shabbat activities?
Yes. The word match includes a separate answer page, and each coloring drawing has its own print or PDF button. Prepare materials in advance if your family avoids writing or printing on the holiday.
Why do some dates differ between Israel and abroad?
Some festivals have an additional day in many communities outside Israel. Use the calendar selector and follow your local community calendar.
Explore more: All Jewish holidays, and Learn Hebrew letters.