Havdalah is a special ceremony in the Jewish religion. It happens at sundown, when Shabbat, our day of rest, wraps up and a fresh week starts. The Havdalah blessings are recited with a sense of honor, expressing our trust in Adonai, our God. The ceremony’s like a reminder of the deep bond between God and us, His Jewish people.
As we look at the flickering light and drink the wine, we’re reminded of the special bond we share – Adonai, who distinguishes the holy, is like a cup of salvation we call upon. In the gentle hush as daylight fades into the night, Havdalah means more than mere tradition – it’s a strong declaration of belief.
In this article, we’ll explore the complete text of the blessings in Hebrew, transliteration, and English. We will delve into its origin, the meaning and significance of the words, and the unique ritual components associated with it.
Featured image: Photo by Mick Haupt on Unsplash
Table of Contents
- The Havdalah Blessings in the Saturday Evening Ritual
- The Origin and Purpose of Havdalah
- Havdalah Blessings PDF: Hebrew, Transliteration, and English Translation
- Blessing over the Wine
- Blessing over the Spices
- Blessing over the Candle
- The Final Havdalah Prayer
- The Post-Havdalah Prayer: Eliyahu HaNavi
- Recite the Havdalah Blessings – Video
- Birchot Havdalah by Debbie Friedman – Video
The Havdalah Blessings in the Saturday Evening Ritual
When Shabbat ends, we greet the coming days with a spirit renewed by the sacred day that has passed. This transition is led by a Hebrew recitation, glowing with profound meanings. We start by lifting the Kiddush cup, its contents shimmering under the gentle glow of the candlelight.
During this evocative ceremony, we raise the cup of wine, utter blessings, and draw upon the wonderful symbolism. The wine we hold stands for joy and fulfillment. We sip from the cup, taking in the essence of Shabbat, ready to carry it forward into the days ahead.
The multiple-wicked candle represents the many aspects of our lives, intertwined to form a luminous whole. Its high-held flame dancing off our fingernails, visibly separates the sacred from the mundane. There’s something about the sight of the burning flame against the backdrop of three stars in the night sky – it’s as though we draw water from the well of our faith.
The final blessing, where we call upon Eliyahu (Elijah the Prophet), is for protection and goodness. In the spirit of unity, we then extinguish the candle into the wine, symbolizing the infusion of holiness into our everyday lives.
The Origin and Purpose of Havdalah
The term ‘Havdalah’ stems from the Hebrew word ‘הבדל’, meaning ‘to separate’ or ‘to distinguish’. This ritual, therefore, marks the separation between the sacred seventh day of rest and the six days of work that follow.
In essence, it distinguishes between the holy (kodesh) and the profane (chol), between light (or) and dark (choshech), and between the Jewish people (Yisrael) and other nations (amim).
Understanding how to do Havdalah involves appreciating this purpose – the act of demarcating the sacred from the ordinary. By learning to perform this ritual, we embrace the challenge to extend the holiness and tranquility of Shabbat into the six workdays that follow.
Havdalah Blessings PDF: Hebrew, Transliteration, and English Translation
The Havdalah blessings, the cornerstone of the Saturday evening ritual, can be found in our comprehensive Havdalah prayer PDF. Click on the button below to download the PDF file to your device:
Blessing over the Wine
As we recite the blessing over the wine, we raise the kiddush cup high. This symbolizes joy and bounty. After the blessing, we sip the wine, allowing its sweetness to remind us of the sweetness of Shabbat and our hope for a sweet week ahead.
Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
Transliteration:
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha’olam, borei p’ri hagafen.
English:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
Blessing over the Spices
Next, we recite the blessing over the besamim spices. The spice box is passed around for everyone to smell. The fragrant spices, often cloves, offer us a final breath of Shabbat, filling our senses with the day’s essence before we move on to the rest of the week.
Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים
Transliteration:
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha’olam, borei minei besamim.
English:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Creator of different types of spices.
Blessing over the Candle
Now, we move on to the Havdalah candle. As we recite this prayer, we hold the multi-wicked, braided candle high and look at the reflection of its light on our palm. This serves as a symbolic gesture, helping us to see the light and carry the Shabbat’s peacefulness into the coming week. The burning flame of the candle embodies the creative work that is permissible after Shabbat.
Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ
Transliteration:
Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melekh ha’olam, borei me’orei ha’esh.
English:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the lights of the fire.
The Final Havdalah Prayer
Lastly, we recite the final Havdalah blessing, distinguishing between the holy and the profane, between Shabbat and the six days of work, and between the Jewish people and other nations. It’s a beautiful reminder of our faith and responsibilities, marking the separation from the day of rest to the workweek. We symbolize this transition by extinguishing the Havdalah candle in the cup of wine. As the candle’s flame dies out, we prepare ourselves to take the sanctity of Shabbat with us into the rest of the week.
Hebrew:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחוֹל, בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹשֶׁךְ, בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַמִּים, בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶּׂה
Transliteration:
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.
English:
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, King of the Universe, Who distinguishes between the sacred and the secular, between light and dark, between Israel and other nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work
That’s it! We’ve now concluded the Havdalah service. The Havdalah ritual, with its symbolic actions and blessings, offers a graceful conclusion to Shabbat and a hopeful welcome to the new week. So next time, sing along, savor the ritual, and let the prayer’s meaning deepen your Shabbat and the days that follow.
The Post-Havdalah Prayer: Eliyahu HaNavi
Following the recitation of the Havdalah blessing, it is customary to sip the wine or grape juice, inhale the sweetness of the spices from the spice box, and extinguish the Havdalah candle by dipping it into the remaining wine. This routine reminds us of the light of faith, the sweetness of Shabbat, and the hope for a blessed and peaceful new week.
Eliyahu HaNavi is traditionally sung towards the end of the Havdalah service, invoking the memory of the prophet Elijah (Eliyahu). It’s often performed in a variety of melodies. Here are the words of a common version of the prayer:
Hebrew:
אֵלִיָּֽהוּ הַנָּבִיא, אֵלִיָּֽהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּיא, אֵלִיָּֽהוּ, אֵלִיָּֽהוּ, אֵלִיָּֽהוּ הַגִּלְעָדִי. בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵֽנוּ יָבוֹא אֵלֵֽינוּ עִם מָשִֽׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד, עִם מָשִֽׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד.
Transliteration:
Eliyahu haNavi, Eliyahu haTishbi, Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu ha-Giladi. Bimherah v’yameinu, yavo eleinu im mashiach ben David, im mashiach ben David.
English:
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.
Recite the Havdalah Blessings – Video
Enjoy this comprehensive video on the Havdalah prayer by Rabbi Katie Bauman:
Birchot Havdalah by Debbie Friedman – Video
What could be a more fitting conclusion to this piece than the captivating Havdalah melody by Debbie Friedman? Let’s surrender ourselves to this magical performance!
Havdalah is more than just an end-of-Shabbat ritual; it’s a bridge that connects the serenity of the Sabbath with the work and responsibilities of the coming week. As you recite the Havdalah blessings, remember its profound meaning and significance. Let it be a reminder of the enduring wisdom and spiritual richness of Judaism, which continues to guide us in our journey through life.
Experience the soothing melody of this beautiful prayer, and let it provide a perfect closure to your Shabbat, just as it has done for the Jewish people for centuries.
As the multi-wicked candle is extinguished, and as the last notes fade, take a moment to prepare for the new week ahead, filled with opportunities, challenges, and the eternal blessings of Adonai.
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- 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
