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The lighting of a candle announces the end of the Sabbath, during which making fire is prohibited. The candle used for havdalah has at least two wicks because the blessing refers to the "lights of the fire." Havdalah candles, which are available in Judaica shops, are often multicolored and contain several braided wicks.
Isa 12:2-6 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. 6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. (KJV)
"Let us bless God together for the wine"
( DON'T DRINK YET!...LIFT THE WINE AND CONGREGATION RECITE)
"Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech ha'olam bore peri ha-gafen"
"Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. Amen!"
The wine is put down without drinking at this time.
Next comes the blessing over spices. The sense of smell has been put to religious use since ancient times, and incense was used in the Temple in Jerusalem. There are a number of explanations for the presence of spices at havdalah. According to one legend, during Shabbat people are given an additional soul and when the Sabbath ends and this soul departs, the spices revive us, lest we faint. The sweetness of the spices symbolizes both the sweetness of paradise and also the wish for a sweet week to come.
After this blessing is recited, something fragrant is passed around for everyone to sniff and enjoy. Flowers or freshly cut fruit can be used. Most Jews who celebrate havdalah, however, own a spicebox filled with cloves and other spices. The oldest spiceboxes date from 16th century Germany, when they were often made in the shape of towers or turrets. Today, spice boxes come in all shapes and sizes, made out of everything from tin to wood to porcelain. They can be purchased in Judaica shops, and often come as part of havdalah sets that include a candle-holder, kiddush cup, and tray.
"Let us bless God together for the spices"
Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech ha' olam bore mi-ne bes-amim.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of many kinds of spices. Amen!
Next comes the blessing over the fire of the candle, which has been burning. The rabbis reasoned that because God started the first week with light, it is fitting to begin every week with a prayer of thanks for light. Because all Jewish blessings require some form of action, it is traditional to hold the hands up in order to feel the warmth of the flame, and to use the light to distinguish between the nails and fingers. This custom probably derives from folk beliefs that fingernails revealed omens of the future. However, because there was great rabbinic opposition to such forms of divination, the rabbis devised alternative interpretations. According to one of these, Adam and Eve were covered by a protective shell before their expulsion from Eden, so looking at fingernails recalls paradise.
"Let us bless God together for the flame"
Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech ha' olam bo-re me'ore ha'esh.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the lights of fire. Amen!
(Reader Cups his hands & extend them to flame-examine)
Finally, there is the havdalah blessing itself, which thanks God for creation and for the distinctions that differentiate the universe into the place we inhabit and sanctify.
Let us bless God together for the separation of sabbath from the rest of the week
Baruch Atah Adonai Elohenu Melech ha'olam ha-mavdil be-yn kodesh lechol be-yn or lech-o-sheck be-yn Yisrael leamim be-yn yom hashevi'i lesh-eshet yeme hama'aseh.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who makes a distinction between the holy & secular, between light and darkness, between Israel & the other nations, between the seventh day and the six working days. Blessed are You, O Lord our God, who makes a distinction between the holy & the secular.
Havdalah is not for the close of Shabbat alone; it is for all the days. Havdalah means "separate yourself from the unholy; strive for holiness."
Havdalah means
May God give us understanding to reject the unholy & to choose the way of holiness. May the one who separates the holy from the profane inspire us to perform these acts of Havdalah.
After this blessing the wine is drunk. Before anyone drinks, however, some is spilled into a plate or tray. This gesture symbolizes sadness and loss; as Shabbat ends, so ends its glimpse of redemption, of a world made whole. Havdalah expresses a longing for a never-ending Shabbat, which for Jews is expressed in the image of the messiah. The prophet Elijah (Eliyahu) is the legendary harbinger of the messiah and, because according to Talmudic legend Elijah will come after havdalah, it is traditional to sing "Eliyahu Hanavi."
Some people begin havdalah with "Eliyahu Hanavi", and others conclude with it by lowering the burning candle into the wine while singing "Eliyahu Hanavi", timing it so that the light sizzles out with the very last word. Now we sing the song.
May God who separates the sacred from the profane, forgive our sins and make us secure and as numerous as the sea and as the stars of the night
At the conclusion of havdalah, everyone says "Shavua toy. " "A good week." In some families, everyone kisses or takes a moment to make a wish for the coming week. "Shavua toy" is also the name of a very simple, well-known song.
A good week. A week of peace. May gladness reign & joy increase.
(At this times, as we prepare for worship, we invite you to participate in the grape juice, bread, & spices, ...and also in the blessing of giving)
In doing Tzedakah, you cannot neglect the house that brings you teachers and gives you a place to know about HaShem and His truth.
Please rise...sing with us........
Elijah the prophet, Elijah the Tishbite. Elijah of Gilead. Soon in our days, Elijah will come with the Messiah, the son of David.
bennoah1@airmail.net