Havdalah

Because Shabbat is considered so special, there is not only a special start on Friday evening, but also a special close on Saturday evening. To distinguish Shabbat from all other days, rabbis created a service called Havdalah (Hebrew for "separated"). This is a simple service consisting of some interesting symbolic elements.

What does it look like?

First a braided Havdalah candle is lit. This reminds us that the light of Shabbat will soon depart. The traditional verse read is Isaiah 12:2, "Surely God is my salvation." In Hebrew salvation is "yeshua."

A spice box is then passed around. Each person shakes the box and sniffs the sweet spices inside to remember the sweetness of the departing Sabbath.

A cup of wine or grape juice is passed around the table, and after the traditional blessing is made, each person takes a sip.

Blessing over the wine:

"Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine."

Then the candle is extinguished in the drops remaining in the cup.

The Havadalah candle and spices serve as a graphic reminder of the coming day when Messiah Yeshua will establish his true Shabbat light and the sweetness of his coming kingdom! May we, his followers, appreciate the foretaste of this truth as we observe this rich holy day, Shabbat.