havdalah

Havdalah is a Jewish ceremony that marks the separation between the holy time of Shabbat or a Jewish festival and the ordinary weekdays that follow. It is typically recited on Saturday night after Shabbat ends, or at the close of a holiday that begins on the eve of the Sabbath. The ritual is observed in homes and, in some communities, in synagogues.

The ceremony centers on three main elements: a cup of wine or grape juice, a braided candle with multiple wicks, and a plate of fragrant spices (besamim). The candle’s light is used symbolically to distinguish between sacred and secular, while the spices are smelled to convey the memory and sweetness of Shabbat as the week begins. The wine is used to sanctify the moment and to seal the transition from holy to ordinary time.

The blessings are recited in a fixed sequence. First is a blessing over the wine, then a blessing over the besamim, and finally a blessing over the candle, traditionally describing the act as distinguishing between kodesh (holy) and chol (ordinary). After the blessings, participants may drink from the wine, smell the spices, and extinguish the candle, with the method of extinguishing varying by local custom.

Variations exist among Jewish communities. Ashkenazi and Sephardi practices may differ in wording, order, and the preferred types of wine or spice. The ritual is generally performed by individuals or family groups and can be adapted for different household circumstances, but the essential purpose remains the same: to signal the end of the sacred period of Shabbat or a festival and to initiate the ordinary week that follows.