Shabbat Star

At Lauren's school, each child signs up to be the Shabbat Star one Friday of the year. On March 7 Lauren was the Shabbat Star, and in honor, Norm, Nana and I went to school to share the day with her.




The Shabbat Star poster that was displayed in the classroom all week, showing all of Lauren's family:


In the classroom with her Shabbat crown:


At the Shabbat assembly, which the entire school goes to every Friday. Think a couple of hundred children, ages 6 months thorough pre-K screaming and roughhousing, with a few Shabbat songs thrown in for good measure. Not that any of them are particularly paying attention - case in point here:


All of the Shabbat stars from each class get to come to the front of the theater to say the Shabbat prayer, and participate in the candle lighting ceremony. Lauren was the smallest one up there, but she held her own!


Then all of the Shabbat stars danced in a circle while singing. Once Lauren started twirling there was no stopping her:


We were given a Shabbat bag by her teacher to take home for the weekend that included candlesticks, a cup for "wine", a cloth to cover the challah, a Shabbat puppy, some challah, and a sheet with the blessings. The challah was eaten in the car on the way home, lol. But we did light the candles that evening and say the blessings. Lauren didn't quite grasp the concept that we weren't supposed to blow these candles out, but she still enjoyed everything associated with this special day.