Havdalah - Concluding the Shabbat

Havdalah - הַבְדָּלָה

Havdalah means separation and is recited over a cup of wine and fragrant spices that we might use all five senses in making the distinction between Sabbath and the remaining days of the week, between the sacred and the profane, light and darkness.

"Havdalah, marking the end of the Sabbath, is attributed to the men of the Great Assembly (Berakhoth 33a). The introductory passage Hinei El Yeshuati, consisting of biblical verses, is of latter origin. According to Maimonides, the symbolic use of fragrant spices during the recital of the Havdalah is to cheer the soul which is saddened at the departure of the Sabbath. When a festival follows immediately after the Sabbath the spices are omitted, because the soul then rejoices with the incoming holiday. The wine for the Havdalah is allowed to flow over as a symbol of the overflowing blessing expected in the coming week. It is customary to cup the hands around the candle and to gaze at the finger-nails. The reflection of the light on the finger-nails causes the shadow to appear on the palm of the hand, thus indicating the distinction "between light and darkness" mentioned in the Havdalah. A twisted candle of several wicks is used since the phrase more' ha-esh ("lights of fire") is in the plural. The custom of dipping the finger in the wine and passing it over the eyes alludes to Psalm 19:9 where G-d's commands are described as " enlightening the eyes."" - Birnbaum

After the blessings are said everyone sings Eliyahu HaNavi as we look forward to the possibility of Messiah's coming in the coming week, as heralded by the appearance of Eliyahu the prophet. For more on Havdalah please see the following links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Havdalah
http://www.headcoverings-by-devorah.com/Shabbat_Havdalah.html

Hinei El y'shuati, evtach v'lo efchad.
Ki ozi v'zimrat Yah Adonai vay'hi li lishuah.
Ush'avtem mayim b'sason mimaay'nei hay'shuah.
L'Adonai hay'shuah, al am'cha virchatecha, selah.
Adonai tz'vaot imanu, misgav lanu, Elohei Yaakov, selah.
Adonai tz'vaot, ashrei adam botei-ach bach!
Adonai hoshiah; haMelech yaaneinu v'yom koreinu.
LaY'hudim hay'tah orah v'simchah v'sason vikar;
kein tihyeh lanu.
Kos y'shuot esa, uv'shem Adonai ekra. 

script and transliteration from -  http://www.reformjudaism.org

Behold G-d is my Deliverance (Salvation) ; I will trust and will not be afraid; truly the L-rd is my strength and my song; He has delivered me indeed. Joyfully  shall you draw upon the fountains of  deliverance (salvation). Is is for the L-rd to bring help; my G-d thy blessing be upon thy people. The L-rd of  hosts is with us; the G-d of Jacob is our Stronghold. L-rd of hosts, happy is the man who trusts in thee. O L-rd, save us; may the King answer us when we call. The Jews had light and joy, gladness and honor. So be it with us. I will take the cup of deliverance (salvation), and will call upon the name of the L-rd. 

Isaiah 12:2-3; Psalms 3:9; 46:12, 84:13, 20:10; Esther 8:16; Psalm 116:13 - Birnbaum Siddur 

note: the word salvation is not part of Birnbaum's translation.

Hinei El Yeshuati - Audio - thanks to Yisrael and Yoshi for this melody

From the Sim Shalom Siddur.

Baruch atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam bore' peri ha-gafen

Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.

Baruch atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam bore' minei vesamim
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates species of fragrance.

Baruch atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam bore' m'orei ha-esh
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates the illuminations of the fire.

Havdalah Blessings Audio - melody by Debbie Friedman

Baruch atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam ha-mavdil bein kodesh lechol bein or lechoshech bein Yisrael la-amim bein yom hashevi'i lesheshet yemei ha-ma'aseh Baruch atah Hashem ha-mavdil bein kodesh lechol

Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who separates between holy and secular], between light and darkness, between Yisrael and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of labor. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who separates between holy and secular.

http://www.headcoverings-by-devorah.com/Shabbat_Havdalah.html

Alternate script, transliteration and translation - 

http://www.kakatuv.com/pdfs/shabbat-at-homeR/08havdalahR.pdf

Hamavdil Blessing Audio

ELIYAHU HANAVI	ELIJAH THE PROPHET
Eliyahu hanavi Eliyahu hatishbi, Eliyahu hagil'adi - Bim'hera yavoh eleinu, im mashiach ben David. (x2)	Elijah the prophet Elijah the returning, Elijah the giladi - May he soon come to us, with the messiah son of David. (x2)

http://www.hebrewsongs.com/song-eliyahuhanavi.htm

Eliyahu Audio

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)