Shabbat observance fulfils a special purpose in nursing home settings. In the residence where I serve as cantor and hospice chaplain, Shabbat marks a unique kind of transition. The week, structured with activities and sessions, makes way for a quieter time of simple togetherness. It also signals the weekend, when spouses, children, and grandchildren, off from work and school, visit their loved ones and provide companionship.
Above all, Shabbat is an anchor that connects people to a past they may fear they’re forgetting and helps shape the identities of those whose lives look different in their new surroundings. Here, we talk about our Jewish Shabbat Prayer in time of quarantine.
