Shabbat Davenings

Friday afternoon

1. At Mincha on Friday there’s no Tachanun even if one prays Mincha Gedolah (six and a half hours).
2. If one has a meal after midday on Friday should say Shir HaMaalot and not Al Neharot Bavel. (but see Having a meal on Erev Shabbat; this may not be allowed)

Kabbalat Shabbat

1. Many sepharadim have the minhag to read the megilla of Shir Hashirim every Friday night.
2. The minhag is to say Bemeh Madlikin before Arvit on Friday night.
3. Bemeh Madlikin isn't said if Yom Tov falls on Friday or Shabbat or on Shabbat Chol HaMoed.Sephardim don't say Bemeh Madlikin on Shabbat Chanuka, and if Yom Kippur falls out on Shabbat.

Friday night

1. In the Bracha of Hashkivenu (השכיונו) on Friday night the Sephardic minhag is that one doesn’t conclude the usual way rather starting from ובצל כנפיך תסתירנו one should add ופרוס סכת שלום עלינו ועל ירושלים עירך ברוך אתה ה' הפורס סכת שלום עלינו ועל כל עמו ישראל ועל ירושלים.
2. The minhag is to say VeShamru on Shabbat and VaYidaber Moshe on Yom Tov after the Brachot Kriyat Shema before Shemoneh Esrei.

Vayichulu

The principal sanctification of Shabbat is consummated with the recitation of the "Vayechulu" passage. Based on mystical considerations, the Vayechulu passage is to be recited no less than three times on Friday night. It is recited twice within the course of the Maariv prayer and the again at home as part of the Kiddush. We are taught that one who says Vayechulu on Friday night is considered to be a partner with God in creation. So too, it is in merit of the recitation of Vayechulu that one is provided with the two escorting angels and additionally all of one's sins are forgiven.

So important is this passage, that according to most authorizes, once one has recited Vayechulu one has discharged one's true obligation of reciting Kiddush. The common custom of reciting the Kiddush at home over a cup of wine is essentially a rabbinical enactment and not necessarily a pre-requisite for fulfilling the Torah's mitzva of Kiddush. Some authorities however do not consider Kiddush properly discharged until it is recited over a cup of wine. The recitation of Kiddush at home, in addition to repetition of Vayechulu, also recalls the exodus from Egypt. There are several authorities who argue that one has not truly fulfilled the mitzva of Kiddush unless one has made reference to the Exodus in the Kiddush.

It is interesting to note that it may just be that the only reason Vayechulu is repeated after Maariv all year long is simply to ensure that it be recited on a Yom Tov which would coincide with a Shabbat, in which case the Vayechulu would not have been recited as part of the Maariv Amida. Similarly, the recitation of Vayechulu at Kiddush is actually not truly required. Rather, it is recited for the benefit of those present who may not yet have heard or recited Vayechulu as is often the case by women and children who don't normally say the Maariv prayer.

The Vayechulu that is recited following the Maariv Amida is to be recited standing, out loud, and in unison with the rest of the congregation. The purpose of this recitation of Vayechulu is to serve as a form of testimony, proclaiming our belief that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. As such, some authorities require it to be recited with at least another person, while others call for it to be recited as part of a minyan. If need be, Vayechulu may be recited while sitting.

Another reason that Vayechulu is recited three times on Friday night is because the word "asher" appears three times. The word "asher" also appears 3 times in reference to the Para Aduma, red heifer. The rabbis derive form here that just as the Para Aduma brings forgiveness and purity, so too does the thrice recitation of Vayechulu.

It is recommended that one not overly prolong one's Amida in order to be able to recite Vayechulu with the congregation. Other authorities are not too particular about reciting it along with someone else. According to this approach, if one missed the opportunity of saying Vayechulu along with the congregation then it is best recited alone afterwards. Some authorities rule however that those praying alone should never recite Vayechulu after the Amida.

It is noted that reciting Vayechulu three times on Friday night contains within it deep kabbalistic secrets. If one is in the midst of reciting the silent Amida when the congregation about to recite Vayechulu together, one should aim to recite the Vayechulu of one's Amida along with the congregation, if possible. Talking during the public recitation of Vayechulu is strictly forbidden.

Me'ayn Sheva

1. The blessing of Magen Avot/me'ayn sheva, recited after the amidah on Friday night, is only said in an established minyan. An ad hoc minyan in a home does not recite Magen Avot. If a minyan is made in a home every Friday night there is a machloket in the poskim if this is enough to require me'ayn sheva. daven in that home every Friday night may confer "established" status on the minyan, but some contend that the minyan must also have a Torah scroll present in order to recite Magen Avot.

Mussaf

1. If Rosh Chodesh is coming up in the next week, before Mussaf the congregation says the bracha for the new moon and announces the rosh chodesh.
2. Ashkenazim have the minhag to stand for the announcement and bracha of Rosh Chodesh on Shabbat the week before Rosh Chodesh. However, the Syrian minhag is not to stand for this.
3. See Mussaf

Mincha

1. Before taking out the sefer torah, the congregation says the pasuk "VaAni Tefilati".
2. After Shemoneh Esrei the minhag is to say "Tzidkatcha Tzedek". If it is a day that had it been a weekday they wouldn't have said Tachanun, they don't say Tzidkatcha at mincha.

Saying the weekday Shemoneh Esrei by mistake

1. If one made a mistake and began a weekday bracha on Shabbat, one should finish that bracha and then continue from the middle bracha of the Shabbat Shemona Esrei.
2. If one made a mistake and said Atta as the first word of Atta Chonen and then remembers that it is Shabbat, if it is for Mariv on Friday night or Mincha on Shabbat day then one should continue with Kidashta for Mariv and Echad for Mincha since those brachot begin with Atta. If it is Shacharit and one already said Atta, if one said Atta because one forgot that it was Shabbat one should finish Atta Chonen and continue with Yismach, however, if one remembered that it was Shabbat and by habit said Atta, one should continue with Yismach Moshe.
3. If one made a mistake and began a weekday Shemona Esrei bracha during Mussaf, one should stop even in middle of the bracha and continue with Tikanta Shabbat.
4. If one made a mistake and said the entire weekday Shemona Esrei, one hasn't fulfilled his obligation to pray Shemona Esrei of Shabbat, so he has to start from the beginning. If one is unsure if one said the weekday Shemona Esrei one has to repeat the Shabbat Shemona Esrei.

Personal requests

1. One should refrain from making any personal requests in davening on Shabbat unless it is part of the established texts (such as the HaRachaman's in benching).

If one forgot to say Mincha on Friday afternoon

1. If one forgot to say Mincha on Friday one should say Arvit on Friday night, two Shemoneh Esreis of Shabbat, the first one for Arvit and the second as a makeup for Mincha (Tashlumin).

Mariv on Saturday Night

See the Atta_Chonantanu page.

Learning on Shabbat

1. People who work during the week should make an extra effort to learn Torah on Shabbat and Yom Tov.

Credits

Special thanks to Rabbi Ari Enkin for his contribution to the Vayichulu section from his books Amot Shel Halacha.