Havdalah: Separation Between the Holy and the Common

I’ve previously written about the importance of the Sabbath (Shabbat) and how to observe it. We light candles and say blessings to set the Sabbath apart from all other days. 

In addition, there’s a tradition that reminds us when the Sabbath is over, and we return to our regular week. It’s called Havdalah.  In Hebrew, Havdalah means “separation” and celebrates what a blessing the Sabbath was. It’s a way of both saying our goodbyes to it and looking forward to next week’s Sabbath. Havdalah is another way we can remember the Sabbath, as our God has asked of us. It’s also how we can keep it holy and set it apart from the other days.

The three basic elements of the Havdalah service are: an overflowing cup of wine, a braided, multi-wick candle to light, and fragrant spices. Held on Saturday evening, just after sundown, the Havdalah service is typically held at home instead of in a congregational setting.

Like other traditions, how it’s done varies among households but here’s the order of a basic Havdalah ceremony.

Click here for a printable Step-by-Step Havdalah Guide

The Blessing Over the Wine

This is the same blessing we say when we bring in the Shabbat called the HaGafen. Fill the cup to the very brim with wine. It’s okay if it overflows – that signifies our overflowing blessings. Recite the blessing but don’t drink the wine until after the Havdalah service concludes.

The HaGafen

In English:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Response: Amen)

In Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן

Transliteration of the Hebrew:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, bo-rei pe-ri ha-ga-fen. (Response: “Amen”)

The Blessing Over the Spices

Pleasantly fragrant spices are smelled at the Havdalah service to remind everyone of the blessing we’ve been given in the Sabbath. The spices most often used are cloves and cinnamon but hyssop, anise, and other spices can also be used. A blessing is then said over the spices.

In English:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of different types of spices. 

(Response: Amen)

In Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִם

Transliteration of the Hebrew:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, bo-rei mee-nei ve-sah-meem.

(Response: “Amen”)

The Blessing Over the Havdalah Candle

By lighting the havdalah candle, we remember two things – that light was the first thing created by our God and that the Sabbath is over and we begin our work, our “creating”. Lighting the candle represents our first act or work of the week, as many don’t light candles on the Sabbath due to Exodus 35:3.

In English:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, creator of the light of the fire. 

(Response: Amen)

In Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ

Transliteration of the Hebrew:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, bo-rei meh-or-ee ha-esh.

(Response: “Amen”)

The Blessing of Separation

The final blessing brings it all together. The reason for Havdalah is to distinguish the sacred from the common, the holy from the unholy. It states that the holy Shabbat has now ended and the work week has begun. This blessing praises God for separating. While this may seem strange, think of all the separating God does. He separated light from darkness, the waters from the heavens, the seas from the dry land, the Sabbath from the rest of the week, His people from among the nations, etc.

In the command to keep the Sabbath, we’re to keep it holy. This means we’re to set it apart from the rest of the days of the week. Havdalah is one way we can keep the Sabbath holy – we’re deliberately separating it from the other days of the week. Here’s the blessing over separation, called the Hamavdil.

In English:

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who distinguishes between the holy and the profane, light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Blessed are you, Lord, who separates between the holy and the profane. (Response: Amen)

In Hebrew:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קדֶשׁ לְחוֹל

, בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹשֶׁך, בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָאַםִּים, בֵּין יוֹם הַשְׁבִיעִי לְשֶׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַםַּעֲשֶׂה

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קדֶשׁ לְחוֹל

Transliteration of the Hebrew:

Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-olam, ha-mahv-dil ben ko-desh leh-chol, ben or leh-cho-shech ben yees-ra-el la-a-meem ben yom hash-vee-ee leh-sheh-sheht yeh-mei ha-mah-ah-seh. Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai ha-mahv-dil ben ko-desh leh-chol.

(Response: “Amen”)

The End of the Shabbat

After the blessings, take a drink of the wine.  The havdalah candle is then extinguished in the wine that overflowed from the cup, symbolizing that the Shabbat is now over. Everyone can now wish each other a “Shavua Tov” – a good week!

Click here for a printable Step-by-Step Havdalah Guide

A Havdalah service is important because it separates the holiness of the Sabbath from the other days in the week. Instead of just being another day, the Sabbath is clearly separated with the Shabbat service on Friday evening and the Havdalah on Saturday evening. This is not only one way we can honor God’s command to keep the Sabbath holy. It’s also a way for us to align our week with His calendar and receive even more blessings by living according to His ways!