It is tradition to have two loaves of challah at the Shabbat table, both on Friday night and Saturday lunch. Why? While wandering in the desert, the Israelites received manna each day to sustain them. Every Friday, G-d would provide a double portion of manna, so they wouldn't have to collect it on Shabbat. While we say the hamotzi over both loaves, we eat from the bottom one on Friday night (it fell first), and the top loaf on Saturday. Culinary traditions are strong for Shabbat. Obviously the challah is an essential part of the meal, which is often accompanied by matzoh ball soup, kugel, and chicken or cholent, a popular Shabbat dish that evolved from the prohibition to cook on the Sabbath. The dish is prepared and set on low heat to cook slowly for hours before being served. Check out these recipes and more in the recipe section! Many people suggest that discussion around the Shabbat table should include the parasha, the weekly Torah portion, and other Jewish topics. Often one person at the table will be asked to prepare a d'var Torah, a short talk about some theme in the parasha. There are many books written to help distill the themes of the parasha, to prepare d'vrei Torah (plural of d'var Torah), and to provide questions for discussion. "Around the Shabbat Table" by Aryeh Ben David is one great example. Look for this book and others in the book reviews section! Havdallah is the ceremony at the end of Shabbat. Once three stars are visible in the night sky, Shabbat is over, and these rituals help us transition to the next week. Three ritual objects are used for Havdallah: a cup overflowing with wine, a candle especially for the occasion that is long and woven of at least three wicks, and sweet spices, often kept in a special spice box. The candle is lit, and held high while the blessings are recited. First over the wine, next over the spices, which are circulated so everyone can smell and be "lifted" out of the Sabbath and into the week, and then over the flame. It is customary to raise one's hands at this point, noticing the reflection of the flame in the fingernails, and the shadows created on the palm. Lastly, the blessing separating the holy from the profane. Then the wine is sipped, and the remainder is used to put out the flame. After Havdallah, many people dip their little fingers in the spilled wine, touching behind their ears, their pockets and wrists for good luck in the coming week. "Eliyahu-HaNavi" and "Shavua Tov" ("good week") are often sung at the end of Havdallah.