Shabbat Conclusion: Havdalah Blessings

Havdalah is a Hebrew word that means “separation” and is the ritual that ends Shabbat, separating it from the start of the new week. The service can take place in the home, in synagogue or in a group. A beautiful ritual, it’s a brief ceremony that uses four elements to mark the moment we sadly say goodbye to the beauty of Shabbat, and pledge to carry its gifts into the week to come.

We drink from a cup of wine – which symbolizes the joy we experienced on Shabbat. We pass a spice box (full of cinnamon or another sweet smelling spice) – which symbolizes the lingering scent of the sweetness of Shabbat. We light a multi-wicked candle – which symbolizes how our busy separate selves come together on Shabbat.  The light, the wine, and spices all come together to help us carry Shabbat with us through the week until the next Shabbat.  We extinguish the candle into the wine to conclude the ceremony, as a final moment of “goodbye” to Shabbat. With the singing of Shavua Tov and Eliyahu haNavi we wish each other a “good week” to come and long for a day when Shabbat won’t need to end at all!

Download a printable version of these blessings.

Introductory Passage to the Havdalah Service: Hinei El

As Shabbat ends, the Havdalah candle is lit. It is customary to raise the cup of wine or grape juice high when the last sentence is recited and then proceed to the blessings. This paragraph is a collection of Biblical verses.

Hebrew Text

הִנֵּה אֵל יְשׁוּעָתִי, אֶבְטַח וְלֹא אֶפְחָד,
כִּי עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ יְיָ, וַיְהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה.
וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם מַֽיִם בְּשָׂשׂוֹן, מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה.
לַייָ הַיְשׁוּעָה, עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה.
יְיָ צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ, מִשְׂגָּב לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה.
יְיָ צְבָאוֹת, אַשְרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵֽחַ בָּךְ.
יְיָ הוֹשִֽׁיעָה, הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵֽנוּ.
לַיְּהוּדִים הָיְתָה אוֹרָה וְשִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשׂוֹן וִיקָר.
כֵּן תִּהְיֶה לָּֽנוּ.
כּוֹס יְשׁוּעוֹת אֶשָּׂא, וּבְשֵׁם יְיָ אֶקְרָא.

Transliteration

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 kor'einu.

(This line is customarily recited by the participants first and then the leader repeats:)
LaY'hudim hay'tah orah v'simchah v'sason vikar; kein tih'yeh lanu.


Kos y'shuot esa, uv'shem Adonai ekra.

Translation

Behold, the God who gives me triumph! I am confident, unafraid; for Adonai is my strength and might, and has been my deliverance. Joyfully shall you draw water from the fountains of triumph, deliverance is Adonai's; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.
Adonai Tz'vaot is with us; the God of Jacob is our haven. Selah.
Adonai Tz'vaot. happy is the one who trusts in You. O Adonai, grant victory!
May the Sovereign answer us when we call.

(This line is customarily recited by the participants first and then the leader repeats:)
The Jews enjoyed light and gladness, happiness and honor. So may it be for us.

I raise the cup of deliverance and invoke the name of Adonai.

Blessing Over the Wine
Havdalah Blessings
Audio file

(Lift the cup of wine or grape juice, and recite the blessing:)

Hebrew Text

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן. 

Transliteration

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei p'ri hagafen.

Translation

We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Blessing Over the Spices

(Hold up the spice box, and recite the blessing:)

Hebrew Text

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים.

Transliteration

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei minei v'samim.

Translation

We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of varied spices.

 

Blessing Over the Flame

(Hold the Havdalah candle, and recite the blessing:)

Hebrew Text

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ.

Transliteration

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam,
borei m'orei ha-esh.

Translation

We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of the lights of fire.

Blessing of Separation
Hebrew Text

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמַּבְדִיל בֵּין קֹֽדֶשׁ לְחוֹל, בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹֽשֶׁךְ, בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַמִּים, בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְשֵֽׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַמַּבְדִיל בֵּין קֹֽדֶשׁ לְחוֹל.

Transliteration

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam,
hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol, bein or l'choshech,
bein Yisrael laamim,
bein yom hash'vi-i l'sheishet y'mei hamaaseh.
Baruch atah Adonai, hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol.

Translation

Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all: who distinguishes between the holy and ordinary, between light and dark, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Praise to You, Adonai who distinguishes the holy and ordinary.

(Sip the wine or grape juice. Then extinguish the candle in the remaining wine or grape juice.)

Shavua Tov
Shavua Tov
Audio file

Shavuah Tov!

A good week, a week of peace, may gladness reign and joy increase.

Eliyahu HaNavi - Prayer for the Prophet Elijah to Herald Redemption
Eliyahu
Audio file
Hebrew Text

אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא
אֵלִיָּהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּי
.אֵלִיָּהוּ הַגִּלְעָדִי
בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵֽינוּ
יָבוֹא אֵלֵינוּ
.עִם מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד

Transliteration

Eliyahu hanavi,
Eliyahu hatishbi,
Eliyahu hagiladi.

Bimheirah b'yameinu,
yavo eileinu,
im Mashiach ben David.

Translation

May Elijah the prophet,
Elijah the Tishbite,
Elijah of Gilead,
quickly in our day come to us
heralding redemption.

Miryam Han'viah – Miriam the Prophet
Hebrew Text

מִרְיָם הַנְּביִאָה

עֹז וְזִמְרָה בְּיָדָהּ,

מִרְיָם תִּרְקֹד אִתָּֽנוּ 

לְהַגְדִּיל זִמְרַת עוֹלָם.

מִרְיָם תִּרְקֹד אִתָּֽנוּ 

לְתַקֵּן אֶת הָעוֹלָם.

בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵֽינוּ הִיא תְּבִיאֵֽינוּ 

אֶל מֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה.

Transliteration

Miryam han’viah —
oz v’zimrah b’yadah.
Miryam tirkod itanu
l’hagdil zimrat olam;
Miryam tirkod itanu
l’takein et haolam.
Bimheirah v’yameinu hi
t’vieinu
el mei haishua.

Translation

Miriam the prophet—the power of song
is in her hand.
Miriam will dance among us and the music
will be heard far and wide.
Miriam will dance among us to
mend our world of suffering.
May she lead us, in our time, without delay,
to the waters of help and healing.

Source

From Miskhan T'filah: A Reform Siddur  © 2007 by CCAR Press. All rights reserved.