How Does a Busy Working Woman Prepare for Shabbat?

Question:

I need help. My family has always enjoyed Shabbat meals, and I light the Shabbat candles. Now we have decided to become totally Shabbat observant. Problem is, I am a professional. I work a lot. Quitting is not an option, and I leave work on Fridays barely in time to arrive home by sundown.

How can I possibly prepare Shabbat? Can we ever have anyone over? Frankly, worrying about Shabbat all week is stressing me out, and it seems to be contrary to the entire Shabbat spirit.

I would really appreciate practical tips from women who have actually had to deal with these issues.

Answer:

It’s great that you have made the decision to be Shabbat-observant; Shabbat is such a blessing, if it didn’t exist it would have to be invented! I realize it is hard, but know that you are not alone; there are many Jewish women in your position who are able to juggle both. Here are some suggestions; let me know if they work for you or not!

Prepare for Shabbat during the week. If you bake challah, bake it on Sunday. Make the chicken or meat on a weeknight, and freeze it. Chicken soup (without the veggies) freezes excellently. Even potato kugel freezes well. All you have to do on Friday afternoon, then, is get it all warmed up.
Get a crockpot (there are many on the market available at quite reasonable prices), and put in the chicken/meat and potatoes or rice in the morning. By the time you come home, you will have a piping hot Shabbat meal ready and waiting. Fish takes only a few minutes to prepare, and if you eat gefilte fish, you can buy jars of it ready made to save more time.
Set the Shabbat table on Thursday night, so that the candles and all you need will be ready when you get home—one less thing to do when you’re rushing before Shabbat.
About guests: you don’t have to have a five-course meal in order to have guests. Try inviting one or two people over, and see how it goes. I’m sure you and your family will enjoy having guests over.
Finally, many women and men who are Shabbat-observant are able to compromise with their workplaces in the following manner: during winter months, when Shabbat comes in so early, they either come in earlier on Friday, stay later on other days, or work a bit on Sunday to make up for the extra couple of hours they take off in order to be home at a decent time before sundown. Perhaps see if you can work something out with your office along those lines.

I know you can do it!

Chani Benjaminson, for Chabad.org

By Chani Benjaminson

Chani Benjaminson is co-director of Chabad of the South Coast, coordinator of Chabad.org's Ask the Rabbi and Feedback department and is a member of the editorial staff of Chabad.org

More articles by Chani Benjaminson | RSS

The content on this page is copyrighted by the author, publisher and/or Chabad.org, and is produced by Chabad.org. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further, provided that you comply with the copyright policy.

E-mail

Sort By:

NewestOldest

February 9, 2013

things to say to the@ vegetarian Help person.i ve made a list of all vegan (we ve got a vegan)salats and soups receipes,before adding mayonaise etc i make an extra portion for the veganworld,it doesnt take me long to find out how special my vegan is and thankful as well.thank you chana benjaminson for the timemanagement tips.

Anonymous
stamford hill

February 9, 2013

The problem you're facing, is not the problem.

Well, it's actually simple...in whom do you put your trust? If you are in a situation that is difficult, it's because Hashem put you there. The things we label in life as "problems", do you realize how minuscule they are in the eyes of Hashem? At the end of the day it's about understanding that everything is from Hashem, good or bad, and even the bad that is from Him, is good. If you can understand this, and it does take a while to get your head around it, you won't see life's problems anymore, but rather opportunities to do mitzvot and consequently draw closer to Hashem. It's not about the problem you face, because in fact, there is no such thing, it's about your attitude towards your problem. This mindset will change your life.

JP
South Africa

February 8, 2013

everyone who keeps the Shabbat can relate to you. Remembering the following might help:
- G-d created the Shabbat for Jews and He also created the solutions. It says that G-d creates the solution before the problem. It might help u to think outside the box which u have started to do by writing here.
- order out ,it may seem more expensive but I have done it many times when I was working overtime many times and had a ton of guests and I found out that it's cheaper and u end up enjoying Shabbat so much more.
- Or like u can learn from Tdaddikim that as soon as Shabbat ends ,they start Shabbat by preparing everyday .one day a menu, a guest list, something u can freeze,
- Cholent is the easiest thing to prep , 20 mnts at most lmk if u need a Morroccan recipe for that.
- I get the whole family to help it makes a huge difference , it builds great relationships, u catch up on talking, it builds compassion as well and great bonding

Shabbat Shalom

danielle
la

February 8, 2013

Preparing for Shabbos during the week

I used to be in the same situation, often coming home with just enough time to shower. I've learned to be super organized and keep things simple and regular. I always have two of the same salads and one variation. Fish varies between two or three recipes that take 15-20 min to prepare. My husband puts up the soup and chicken. I cut the salads and prepare dressings wed or thurs evening and fish goes in either Friday morn or if I have time when I come home. Desert is something easy like cut up fruit or a cake that takes 20 min to make (which I make on thurs evening). I make the challah dough on thurs evening, shape it and stick it in the fridge. Then I just stick it in the oven friday morn as soon as I wake up and by the time I need to leave, it's all done. Or if it's a very short friday or busy week at work, I buy challah instead. I either buy kugel or alternate between one or two easy recipes. I plan my menu on tues and shop tues evening so that I can start preparing by wed. Good luck!

Batya
Brooklyn

February 8, 2013

Good Advice!!

I am a student right now BH KH in PA (Physician Assistant/Associate) School and this thought of how I am going to juggle this profession and a family crosses my mind all the time!! So when I saw this article I just had to see what pearls of wisdom I could get...very helpful and reassuring!!! I love that Chabad.org has such practical articles!!! Thank you Chani Benjaminson and Chabad.org :)

Yaffa
Flushing, NY

February 8, 2013

I come from a frum home and have always kept Shabbos.
I am young and relatively newly married and also work as a full time professional.
You should know that any professional newly observant or not struggles with this.
I have learned to compromise and realise I am not superwoman and I can't do it all.
E.g., I buy challos, as the amount of time & shifts needed to make these is just beyond my schedule. Dessert is also the last thing I make as that is easy to buy.
I have quick and easy recipes which I repeat regulary, and I don't have guests as often as I would like - I don't schedule them when I know work is going to be busy.
I also have to be very organised and frankly know exactly what you are referring to when you talk about stressing over shabbos all week.
Unfortunately, I do think there is a limited amount that can be done to relieve this stress, as I said we are not superwomen and can't do it all.
What I have found, though, is each time is easier as I gain confidence.
Good Luck!

Anonymous

February 7, 2013

Working mother with kid

Hi,
I am in the same boat. I work full time, professional +family. We started keeping shabat only recently and I too had a problem with all the meal preparation. We buy food on Sunday and quick top up on Wednesday. On Thursday eve on the way from work my hubby buys a fish and a Challah and we prepare a meal for shabos on Thursday. On Friday I leave my work a bit earlier. I am pretty sure you can negotiate flexible work hours for Friday due to family circumstances, you do not have to tell everybody in your office why you have to leave earlier on Friday. In the beginning when I just started keeping shabos I was coming up with all sorts of "excuses" - have to pick up my daughter earlier, have to go do some test, do not feel good, have to take my car to mechanic. I also started postgrad studies and even I do not have lectures on Friday, I leave earlier saying that I go to a class. As they say, if you want something you will find the way, otherwise you will find excuses. Good luck!

Anonymous
Mel, Au
chabadbentleigh.com

February 6, 2013

Preparing for Shabbos

How about your husband doing half of the preparations, or alternating weeks with him?

Anonymous
Davis, CA

September 28, 2012

shabbat/holiday meals

We now have a vegetarian who does not eat eggplant, tomato, or other "nightshade" vegetables. I need menus for Shabbat and the whole week. HELP

Anonymous
rock, md

July 1, 2012

new shabbat

I have just celebrated my second shabbos, i know that im still getting some things wrong but the peace is tremendous ! my kids seem to love it, i cant believe it, i have so much more to learn.

Anonymous
0000, Ireland

Show all comments