As it’s Friday evening, our family is settling in for Shabbat, lighting candles, saying a few prayers and then gearing up to power down.

For those who aren’t Jewish, Shabbat can seem strange and mysterious, even though most religions and cultures do have some sort of week’s-end or Sabbath day or commemoration.

But, as the non-Jewish world may be wondering about how Shabbat may be similar or different than their own culture’s Sabbath, here are ten little known facts about Shabbat:

1. When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, the Third Commandment was originally “Thank Me It’s Friday.” After test-marketing the slogan, and realizing that the day of Friday had not actually yet been discovered by man, God changed it to Remember the Sabbath Day.

2. Shabbat starts at sundown on Friday because the Hebrew calendar is a lunar one.  Also, by leaving work early on Friday, it allows Jewish people to beat the weekend, rush-hour traffic.

3. Shabbat services are led by a rabbi, who is a stand-up comedian speaking Hebrew and wearing a yarmulke

4. As work is not permitted on Shabbat, there is a movement afoot to move it to Monday, when people really don’t want to work.

5. Shabbat ends on sundown on Saturday because the Hebrew calendar is a lunar one (see #2 above). Also, that conveniently coincides with the time when people want to go out and party.

6. Shabbat prayers were originally written in Hebrew so that the kids wouldn’t know what the adults were talking about.

7. During Shabbat prayers, the goal is to focus on spirituality and connecting with God and the Universe . . . and to whisper gossip to the person seated next to you.

8. Shabbat candles are not made from the tears of Jewish mothers. That’s just what they tell you when you don’t come home for Shabbat so that you’ll feel extra guilty.

9. Contrary to what some have been led to believe, non-Jewish people are welcome at Shabbat services.  However, if they do attend, they are expected to get a passing grade on the quiz “Name which Hollywood actors are Jewish” (those who properly identify Lauren Bacall are given extra credit)

10. The ultimate goal of Shabbat is to be around family (preferably when you and they are asleep and can’t annoy one another).