Ben Carter
Havdalah is a special candle-lighting ceremony that marks the conclusion of Shabbat. The ceremony involves all the senses and is a peaceful way to get in the right headspace for the week ahead. If you don't have a Havdalah candle, you can use birthday or Shabbat candles, or any candle with two or more flames. However, if you don't have fire available, you can still say the blessing on fire alone, or even omit it entirely and just say Havdalah over a cup of wine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to perform Havdalah | Havdalah is performed at the conclusion of Shabbat, when three medium-sized stars are visible in the evening sky. The time varies according to location and season. |
| What if Havdalah is not performed on Saturday night? | One should recite Havdalah as soon as they remember, even during the day. It is not dependent on the evening but becomes obligatory with the conclusion of Shabbat. |
| What if there is no candle? | The absence of a candle does not preclude saying Havdalah. If there is no candle, the blessing can be said over fire alone, or the blessing on fire can be said at another time. |
| What if there is no wine? | The blessing on wine is an integral part of the Havdalah ceremony. If there is no wine, a new cup of wine should be used for the final blessing. |
| What if there are no spices? | The absence of spices is not a requirement for Havdalah. When Yom Tov coincides with after Shabbat, Havdalah is performed without spices. |
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Blessings over wine
The blessings over wine are an important part of the Havdalah ceremony, which marks the end of Shabbat and the beginning of a new week. The ceremony involves all the senses and is a peaceful way to get in the right headspace for the week ahead.
The wine used in the Havdalah ceremony is symbolic of the desire for blessings to overflow into the coming week. The cup is filled to the brim, and sometimes even overflowing, to represent this. The wine can be substituted with grape juice, although wine is preferable in Jewish law.
The blessing over the wine is the first of the four blessings of the Havdalah ceremony. The cup of wine is held in the right hand, and the blessing is recited:
> Savri maranan ve-rabanan ve-rabotai: Baruch ata Adonoy, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, Borei peri ha-gafen.
> Honored and distinguished ones: Blessed are You, God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
After the blessing, the cup is passed to the left hand, and the blessing over the spices is recited. The leader then smells the spices and passes them around for all to smell. The blessing over the fire (candle flame) is then said:
> Baruch ata Adonoy, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, Borei me'orei ha-aish.
> Blessed are You, God, King of the Universe, Creator of the lights of fire.
After the blessings, the person who recited the Havdalah sits down and drinks at least 1.46 ounces of the wine or grape juice. The candle is then customarily extinguished by dipping it in the wine that had overflowed onto the plate. This act symbolises that the candle was lit only for the purpose of the Mitzvah of Havdalah.
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Spices
The spices used in the Havdalah ceremony are intended to comfort the soul as Shabbat comes to an end. The loss of Shabbat is likened to the loss of an extra soul, which can cause one to feel faint. The spices, therefore, act as spiritual smelling salts, reviving the soul with their fragrance.
Cloves and myrtle twigs are the spices traditionally used in the ceremony. However, any pleasant-smelling spice or plant can be used. Cinnamon, for example, is a fine alternative. The key is to use the correct blessing for the spice you have chosen. The general blessing is: "Who created types of spices", or "Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of many kinds of spices".
The spices are held in a spice box, which is placed on a flameproof plate, along with the wine or grape juice and the candle. The leader of the ceremony will then smell the spices and pass them around for all to smell.
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Blessing on the flame
Havdalah is a Jewish religious ceremony that marks the end of Shabbat and the beginning of a new week. The ceremony involves lighting a candle with several wicks, blessing a cup of wine, and smelling sweet spices. The word Havdalah means "separation" in Hebrew.
The blessing on the flame is an important part of the Havdalah ceremony. The blessing is as follows: "Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who creates the lights of fire." Everyone responds by saying "amen," and then looks at the flame and enjoys the light. It is customary to lift one's fingertips so that the flame's glow falls on them.
The blessing on the flame has a rich history and symbolism. According to the Talmud, when Adam was created on the sixth day, he became sad when he saw darkness setting in on Friday night. God then inspired Adam, who took two stones and struck them together, creating fire. At that moment, Adam praised God and said the blessing that is now recited during Havdalah. The Havdalah candle represents the primordial first light of creation and the hope for new beginnings and a new commitment.
It is important to note that the Havdalah candle is typically braided with multiple wicks, usually blue and white or multicolored. However, if a special Havdalah candle is not available, regular birthday or Shabbat candles can be used, or any candle with two or more flames.
The entire Havdalah ceremony is designed to engage all five senses: feeling the cup, smelling the spices, seeing the flame, hearing the blessings, and tasting the wine. It is a peaceful way to transition from Shabbat to the new week and can be a great way to include family and friends, regardless of their religious background.
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Holy distinctions
Havdalah, which means "separation", is a ceremony that marks the conclusion of Shabbat. The last blessing of the Havdalah service talks about the distinction between the holy and the everyday, and ritualizes the transition between the two.
Shabbat ends when three medium-sized stars are visible in one glance in the evening sky. This time varies according to location and season. In North America, a quick way to calculate when Shabbat is over is to add one hour and 10 minutes to the candle-lighting time. For example, if the candle was lit at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night, then Shabbat ends at approximately 7:10 p.m. on Saturday night.
The ceremony involves blessing the wine, spices, and the flame. Wine and/or grape juice is often used in Judaism to signify importance. A cup is filled to the brim, representing a cup overflowing with blessings for the coming week. The blessing over the wine is as follows:
> Savri maranan ve-rabanan ve-rabotai: Baruch ata Adonoy, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, Borei peri ha-gafen. Honored and distinguished ones: Blessed are You, God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
The spice box (usually cloves or sweet pepper) is then picked up with the right hand and the following blessing is recited:
> Baruch ata Adonoy, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, Borei mini vesamim. Blessed are You, God, King of the Universe, Creator of various kinds of spices.
The leader then smells the spices and passes them around for all to smell.
The blessing over the flame (candlelight) is as follows:
> Baruch ata Adonoy, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, Borei me'orei ha-aish. Blessed are You, God, King of the Universe, Creator of the lights of fire.
The Havdalah candle represents the primordial first light of creation, new beginnings, and a new commitment.
The end of the service is a chance to reflect. As Shabbat closes out, one can ask themselves: What are you hoping for in the week to come? What sweetness from Shabbat will you carry with you into the everyday?
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Short songs
The Havdalah ceremony marks the conclusion of Shabbat and the transition to the week ahead. It involves wine, spices, and candlelight, and it is a peaceful way to get in the right headspace for the week ahead.
If you don't have a candle, you can still perform the ceremony. The key to Havdalah is the fragrance, so you can focus on the spices and wine, as well as the blessings and songs.
Havdalah songs are typically wordless tunes that transition between the blessings. However, there are also short songs that can be included to conclude the ceremony. Here are some examples of short songs that can be used:
- "A good week, a week of peace, may gladness reign and joy increase. Shavua tov!"
- "Behold, God is my unfailing help; I will trust in God and will not be afraid. God is strength and song, my Deliverer. With joy shall you draw water out of the wells of salvation. God alone is our help; may God bless His people. God of the universe is with us; the God of Jacob is our protection. There was light and joy; gladness and honor for the Jewish people. So may we be blessed. I will lift the cup of salvation and call upon God’s Name."
- "Miriam the Prophetess, strength and song in her hand, will dance with us to repair the world. Soon, and in our days, may she bring us to the waters of redemption! Finally, we wish each other a happy, healthy week — Shavua tov!"
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