Havdalah

Havdalah is Hebrew for separation. It is a cultural celebration and not
mentioned in scripture. However In Rabbinical liturgy it refers to separating the
sacred from the ordinary, the sacred being the Sabbath day and the ordinary
being the other days of the week. It is one of the earliest blessings in Jewish
tradition. The Havdalah ceremony celebrates the formal end of the Sabbath
day and the beginning of the regular week.

The Blessing over the Wine

Wine is special and signifies many things in
the Kingdom of HaShem. Just as we bring in
the Sabbath with wine when we say
"Kiddush" so, too, we leave the Sabbath with
wine as well. Ps 104:14-15 He makes grass
grow for the cattle,and plants for man to
cultivate--bringing forth food from the earth:
15 wine that gladdens the heart of man,oil to
make his face shine, and bread that sustains
his heart. (NIV) The blessing over wine in the
Havdalah ceremony is identical to the first
blessing of the Shabbat kiddush, but we wait
until the havdalah ceremony is completed
before drinking the wine.

Lift the cup of wine, say this blessing, but
don't drink from the cup. Baruch atah,
Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha'olam, boray pri
hagafen.
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the
universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

The Blessing over Spices

The spices are savored to remind us of the sweet fragrance of the rest of Shabbat.

Lift the spices, say this blessing and sniff the spices.

Baruch atah, Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha'olam, boray minay besamim.
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, Creator of the different spices.

The Blessing over the Flame

Talmudic tradition is that the Havdalah candle must have more than one wick and
must be like a torch because a bright fire is important to symbolize the distinction
between the sacred and the secular. It is customary to look at the back of one's hand
when reciting the blessing over fire to symbolize that now, we are dealing with the
seen, or natural world. The inside of the hand symbolizes the unseen, or spiritual
world signified by the separation of the Sabbath Day.

When praying the blessing raise your hand to the light of the Havdalah candle, curl
your fingers over your palm and look at the shadow cast by your fingers. This
signifies the end of the Sabbath and the first use of a kindled flame permitted on the
other days of the week..

Baruch atah, Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha'olam, boray me'oray ha'aysh.
Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, Creator of the fire's lights.

The Havdalah blessing

This blessing not only distinguishes between the Sabbath and the rest of the week,
but uses this distinction to symbolize other important distinctions: The sacred and
secular, the flesh and the spirit, and light and darkness. Pick up the cup of wine and
recite the following blessings.

Baruch atah, Adonai, Elohaynu melech ha'olam, hamavdil
bayn kodesh lechol
bayn or lechoshech
bayn Yisra'el la'amim
bayn yom ha'shevi'i leshayshet yemay hama'aseh.

Blessed are You, God, our Lord, King of the universe, who separates
between the holy and the profane;
between the light and dark;
between Israel and the other nations;
between the seventh day and the six days of the week.

Now drink the cup of wine, leaving enough to use to extinguish the flame.