The end of Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest, and the beginning of the new week are marked by the Havdalah (Hebrew: "separation").The rituals are performed after sundown each Saturday to encourage you to look both back and ahead.It is a good time to reflect on what made Shabbat special, and to think of loved ones who can't be with you.
Step 1: The candle, wine, and spices should be prepared.
The Havdalah candle has several wicks and is braided.A wine glass and a spice box are filled.The ceremony begins by making fire, which symbolizes hope and a way to overcome darkness.Adam and Eve were afraid of the darkness until G-d showed them how to make fire.The memory of the candle's warmth and light will remain even when it is no longer burning.
Step 2: The prayer should be over the wine.
Wine symbolizes hope and joy.The transliteration is "Baruch ata Adonai eloheynu melech ha'olam borei p'ri hagafen".This is translated as: Blessed are you Adonai our God, the creator of the universe.
Step 3: The prayer should be over the spices.
Transliterate the prayer as follows: Adonai eloheynu melech ha'olam Borei miney b'samim.The English translation is: Blessed are you Adonai our God, ruler of the universe, creator of all the spices.The box can be passed around.The next Shabbat is only six days away, so it symbolizes a revival of the senses.
Step 4: The prayer should be over the candle/light.
You can extend your hands towards the flame to feel its heat and appreciate its beauty.The prayer says that Adonai is the creator of the light of fire.
Step 5: Allow the concluding prayer to be said.
The blessing closes the ceremony and points to the new week that has just begun.The prayer is: Blessed are you Adonai our God, ruler of the universe, who separates the sacred from the profane.
Step 6: To start the new week, Extinguish the candle.
You are left in relative darkness when the candle is put out in the wine.It is time to look ahead to the new week and what it has to offer.The last sound of the snuffed flame is what distinguishes the holy from the mundane.
Step 7: After sundown on Saturday, start Havdalah.
The traditional timing is to wait until three medium sized stars can be seen in a single glance at the sky, and the service should not begin before sundown.Some people start Havdalah one hour and ten minutes later than others.On Saturday, Havdalah would start at 7:10 PM on Friday.The start time is based on sunset in the location.If that day's sunset time is 7:13 PM, Havdalah would begin before 8:00 PM.You can find online and printed guides to help you time out.You can ask about the traditional start time determination where you live.
Step 8: Pour the wine and give it to yourself.
Many celebrants choose to pour a bit more wine than the cup or glass can hold, allowing some to spill over onto a plate positioned underneath.The hope for an overflow of blessings in the week ahead is represented by this.Some people at the end of the service rub their eyebrows or ears with spilled wine after dipping their fingers into it.The hope is to hear good things in the coming week.
Step 9: Pick up the key items.
It is traditional to hold up the wine, spices, and candle at various times during the Havdalah service, but the fine details tend to vary.If you are a left-handed person, you can follow this version: Pick up the wine in your right hand, pray, and move it to your left hand.Pick up the spices in your right hand, pray, smell them, and give them to others to do the same.While another holds the candle, please bless it.All present can extend their hands towards the candle during the blessing.The wine should be moved back to your right hand.
Step 10: Do you want to phrase the prayers?
There are variations in the specific wording of the blessings given.You may want to talk to your local community.Here, you can see a more detailed version of the final blessing: Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam.There is a difference between sacred and secular.Thank you.
Step 11: The blessed wine can be used to extinguish the blessed candle.
The candle is extinguished after the service is over.The blessed wine can be used to do this.The leader of the service drinks wine after the final prayer.A dish or bowl is where the rest of the wine is poured.The poured out wine is dipped in a lit candle.The wine can be poured onto the empty dish if the candle flame is held over it.