Ever wondered how to do Havdalah, the beautiful ceremony that marks the conclusion of Shabbat and the begining of the working week? You’re in the right place.
Carrying deep symbolism in Jewish religion, this blessing is recited at sundown, the boundary between day and night, and holiness and the everyday.
Together, we’ll delve into the deeper meanings of these rituals and guide you on how to do Havdalah, letting you experience the beauty of this ritual. So, let’s get started, welcoming the new week with joy and light!
Table of Contents
- When is the Right Time to Make Havdalah Ceremony?
- How To Do Havdalah Blessings – Step by Step Guide
- How to do Havdalah – Video
- Past Havdalah: Eliyahu HaNavi
- The Deeper Meaning of Havdalah: Symbols and Significance
- How To Do Havdalah – FAQ
When is the Right Time to Make Havdalah Ceremony?
Havdalah, marking Shabbat’s end and the start of the workweek or “לְחוֹל”, is performed when three stars appear in the sky. This timing varies with location and season. In North America, it’s roughly 70 minutes after Friday’s Shabbat lighting of the candles time.
While this provides a good estimate, observing the night sky offers a more precise timing. The exact time of the conclusion of Shabbat is when there’s no red in the western sky, and three small stars are visible.
In Israel, an approximate guideline is about 20 minutes after sunset. However, to avoid breaking a Torah prohibition by ending Shabbat too early, the timing is more conservative, calculated as 32 to 38 minutes after sunset depending on the season.
In Europe and America, this is typically 50-60 minutes after sunset. Check local times for accuracy.
How To Do Havdalah Blessings – Step by Step Guide
Preparation
Before you make Havdalah service, ensure you have all the necessary items at hand:
- a Kiddush cup, filled to the brim with wine or grape juice,
- a braided Havdalah candle with multiple wicks,
- a spice box filled with cloves or other sweet-smelling spices (besamim),
- a plate, or a piece of foil, for allowing melted wax to drip from the candle, and smothering the fire.
- place all the items onto the plate and light the candle.
- additionally, you might want to have your Havdalah blessings text in PDF (Hebrew, transliteration and English) ready to help you recite the blessings accurately.
Hagafen Blessing over the Wine
The Havdalah ceremony commences with the blessing over the wine. Raise the cup high and recite:
“Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, borei p’ri hagafen” (Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who creates the fruit of the vine).
Blessing over the Spices
Next, take the spice box filled with besamim (spices) in your hand, pass them around so everyone can take a deep breath of the fragrance, and recite the blessing over the spices.
“Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha’olam, borei minei besamim” (Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Creator of different types of spices).
For more information on selecting and using spices in the Havdalah service, refer to our article on besamim spices.
Blessing over the Light
Next, hold the candle and recite the blessing over the light of the candle: “Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha’olam, borei me’orei ha’esh” (Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the lights of the fire).
While saying the blessing, we hold your hands up to the candle’s light and look at our fingernails, a reminder of our human capacity for work and creation.
Final Havdalah Blessings
We conclude with the recitation of the final blessing, the “HaMavdil”, describing the contrasts that have been established by God in the world, including the differentiation between brightness and obscurity, the day of rest and the remaining days of the week. Hold the Kiddush cup with your right hand and the candle with your left hand and sing:
“Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha’olam, hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol, bein or l’choshekh, bein Yisrael la’amim, bein yom ha’shvi’i l’sheishet y’mei hama’aseh” (Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Who distinguishes between the sacred and the secular, between light and darkness, between Israel and other nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work).
Drink the wine (at least half the cup), and spill the rest onto the plate. Then extinguish the flame into the wine – this is the moment that Shabbat departs. As our fingers plunge into the spilled wine to extinguish the flame, we’re invited to bring the sanctity and joy of Shabbat into our everyday lives.
Some people use to light two new candles right after the final blessing, so that the light of Shabbat continues into the week.
Once the Havdalah service wraps up, many individuals partake in a special tradition. They dip their pinky fingers into the spilled wine and gently rub it onto their eyebrows and perhaps their ears too. In addition, some people extend this tradition by touching their pockets with the wine-dampened finger. Regarded as a segulah, this action symbolizes an omen for a week filled with prosperity and abundance.
How to do Havdalah – Video
For a deeper dive into the Havdalah ritual, consider watching this informative video by the United Synagogue’s YouTube channel. As Shabbat concludes, we strive to carry its sanctity into the upcoming week. We uplift our spirits by reciting blessings over wine, spices, and the unique Havdalah light, extending the serenity of Shabbat to the week ahead.
Past Havdalah: Eliyahu HaNavi
Eliyahu HaNavi Prayer
Interestingly, the ritual doesn’t end in silence. Instead, it culminates in song, joy, and anticipation. It’s common to sing “Eliyahu Hanavi” and “Hamavdil”, songs expressing hope for a good week and the speedy arrival of the Messianic era. The words of the song are:
“Eliyahu haNavi, Eliyahu haTishbi, Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu ha-Giladi. Bimherah v’yameinu, yavo eleinu im mashiach ben David, im mashiach ben David” (Elijah the prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, Elijah, Elijah, Elijah the Gileadite. May he soon in our day come to us, with the anointed son of David, with the anointed son of David).
The ceremony’s conclusion does not mark the end of Shabbat’s influence. Instead, its lessons and peace should echo throughout the weekdays, acting as a spiritual “misgav lanu Elohei Ya’akov selah” (God of Jacob is our refuge, selah).
Eliyahu HaNavi Song – Video
This is one of my favorite performances of Eliyahu Hanavi by Yosef Karduner. Enjoy!
The Deeper Meaning of Havdalah: Symbols and Significance
This ritual is suffused with rich symbolism. When we hold the Havdalah candle, the light illuminates our surroundings, signifying the importance of carrying the divine light of Shabbat, the extra soul, into the rest of the week, the “לחול”. This moment of candle lighting, when we can see at least three stars in the sky, signals the transition from the sacred to the mundane, creating a bridge between the spiritual and the physical worlds.
Just as we draw water from the wells of salvation, we draw joy from Shabbat, infusing our weekdays with sanctity, joy, and peace. And when the candle is extinguished, we enter the new week with hope and gladness.
This is the transformative power of Havdalah. It empowers us to carry the divine light of Shabbat into every aspect of our lives, illuminating our path in the coming week. In the spirit of the Havdalah, may it be for us a week of peace, blessing, and joy.
How To Do Havdalah – FAQ
Can you do Havdalah alone?
Yes, Havdalah can be performed alone or in a group setting. The important thing is to remember the significance of the ritual and carry it out in a respectful manner.
How do you hold a Havdalah candle?
During the blessing over the light, the Havdalah candle should be held aloft so that the flame’s light can be clearly seen.
Why are Havdalah candles braided?
The braided Havdalah candle symbolizes the intertwining of the six days of work with the day of rest, Shabbat.
What is the greeting for Havdalah?
After the Havdalah service, it’s customary to wish others “Shavua Tov,” which means “Have a good week.”
Can you say Havdalah without wine?
While wine is traditionally used in Havdalah, grape juice can be a suitable substitute.
Can you hear Havdalah over the phone?
Ideally, Havdalah should be experienced in person. However, if circumstances prevent this, participating over the phone or video call is acceptable.
We hope this guide helps you understand how to perform the Havdalah ceremony. Whether you’re doing Havdalah for the first time or just refreshing your memory, remember the essence of this beautiful tradition: to make a distinction between the sacred day of Shabbat and the rest of the week. As you extinguish the flame, look forward to the coming week with anticipation and joy. Shavua Tov!
- Shabbat Shalom! The Ultimate Guide To The Jewish Sabbath Holiday
- What Is Shabbat And Shabbat Shalom? All You Need To Know About The Jewish Sabbath
- Havdalah Ceremony: From Shabbat To The New Week
- How to Do Havdalah – Perform The Beautiful Shabbat Ending Ritual
- The Beautiful Havdalah Blessings To End Shabbat In Judaism
- How To Use The Besamim Spices In Havdalah
