Havdalah Home Ritual

Please note that this page contain the name of God.
If you print it out, please treat it with appropriate respect.

If you do not have experience reading transliteration
please see the Guide to Transliteration.

The Havdalah ritual marks the end of Shabbat or a holiday. The word Havdalah means "separation," because this ritual marks the separation between a special day and he rest of the week. It should be performed after nightfall, which is the time when three stars can be seen in the sky, normally 45 minutes to an hour after sundown, depending on your latitude. For the precise time when Shabbat or a holiday ends in your area, consult the OU Calendar provided by the Orthodox Union (look for the word Havdalah near the end of the list).

You will need three things for this ritual: a glass of wine, grape juice or other liquid if grape is not available, some fragrant spices, and a special Havdalah candle. These prayers are commonly sung to the tune heard in the video on this page. Please note that the video uses substitutions for the names of God, which appear on this page.

P'ri Hagafen: Wine

The first of the four havdalah blessings is made over wine or another liquid. If wine or grape juice is not used, you should substitute shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (by whose will all things come to be) for borei p'ri hagafen (who creates the fruit of the vine). This is the same blessing that is traditionally recited whenever we eat or drink any grape product. Note that you do not drink the wine immediately after completing the blessing, as you usually do. The wine is held until the end of the last blessing.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֶלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe

if using wine or grape juice

בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן (אָמֵן)
borei p'ri hagafen (Amein)
Who creates the fruit of the vine (Amen)

if using other liquids

שֶׁהַכֹּל נִהְיֶה בִּדְבָרוֹ (אָמֵן)
shehakol nih'yeh bid'varo (Amein)
Who made all things exist through His word (Amen)

Don't drink the wine yet!

B'samim: Spices

The second blessing is recited over fragrant spices. The spices represent a compensation for the loss of the special Shabbat or holiday spirit. The spices commonly used are cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon or bay leaves. They are commonly kept in a special decorative holder called a b'samim box or in a decorative bag. Some people stick whole cloves into an etrog after the end of Sukkot and use that for b'samim.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֶלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים (אָמֵן)
borei minei v'samim (Amein)
Who creates varieties of spices (Amen)

Eish: Fire

The third blessing is recited over the special, multi-wicked Havdalah candle. If you cannot obtain a Havdalah candle, you can hold two candles close together, so their flames overlap. I have also used party candles (long, very thin candles) that I warmed up and twisted together.

Lighting a flame is a vivid way of marking the distinction between Shabbat or holiday and the weekday, because we cannot kindle a flame on Shabbat.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֶלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ (אָמֵן)
borei m'orei ha'eish (Amein)
Who creates the light of the fire (Amen)

After the blessing is recited, hold your hands up to the flame with curved fingers, so you can see the shadow of your fingers on your palms. This is done because it would be improper to recite a blessing for something and then not use the thing.

Havdalah: Separation

The final blessing is the havdalah blessing itself, the blessing over the separation of different things. The blessing is recited over the wine.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
אֶלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
Eloheinu, melekh ha'olam
our God, sovereign of the universe
הַמַּבְדִיל בֵּין קֹֽדֶשׁ לְחוֹל
hamav'dil bein kodesh l'chol
Who separates between sacred and secular
בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹֽשֶׁךְ
bein or l'choshekh
between light and darkness
בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַמִּים
bein Yis'ra'eil la'amim
between Israel and the nations
בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי
bein yom hash'vi'i
between the seventh day
לְשֵֽׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה
l'sheishet y'mei hama'aseh
and the six days of labor
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ
Barukh atah Adonai
Blessed are you, Lord
הַמַּבְדִיל בֵּין קֹֽדֶשׁ לְחוֹל (אָמֵן)
hamav'dil bein kodesh l'chol (Amein).
who separates between sacred and secular. (Amen)

After the blessing is complete, drink most of the wine. The flame from the candle is extinguished in what is left of the wine, either in the original glass or on a tray where you pour the remaining wine.


Related Pages

Shabbat Shabbat
Learn about the Jewish sabbath and its observances. Includes a description of a typical sabbath and a recipe for cholent, a traditional Jewish sabbath dish.
Shabbat Shabbat Evening Home Ritual
Some of the blessings recited in the home at the beginning of the Shabbat, including candle lighting, kiddush, washing hands and motzi. In Hebrew, English and transliterated Hebrew.
blessings Common Prayers and Blessings
A list of common prayers and blessings that are available on this site for viewing online. Hebrew, transliteration, and English translation are available.
blessings Prayers and Blessings
Learn about the importance of prayer in Judaism and the form and content of prayers and blessings.
Jewish Liturgy Jewish Liturgy
Learn about the history and structure of the traditional Jewish prayer service.

What's Nu? | Current Calendar | About
Copyright © 5758-5784 (1999-2024), Tracey R Rich