SIDUR de Havdalah
(סִדּוּר הַבְדָּלָה)
Havdalah is celebrated after sunset, almost always in a home setting, although friends can be invited. Everyone gathers around the table where there is a thick or braided Havdalah candle, a cup of wine, and a box of aromatic spices. The order of the Berachot (blessings) is as follows:
Hinei Yeshuati:
The host or the person leading begins by lighting the candle, and with the cup of wine filled in hand, everyone sings:
:הִנֵּה יְשׁוּעָתִי אֶבְטַח וְלֹא אֶפְחָד
:כִּי עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָ-הּ יְהוָה
:יְיָ לִי לִשְׁעָנִי וַתְּהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה
:יְיָ צְבָאוֹת עִמָּנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶלָה
Hinei yeshuati, evtach ve’lo efjad.
Ki ozi ve’zimrat Yah Adonai.
Yah Li, li’shuani, vetohi lishuah.
Yah Tzevaot, imanu, Elohei Ya’akov selah.
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid,
for the Lord is my strength and my song,
He has been and will be my salvation;
The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob, selah.
Berajot Ha’Havdalah:
- Everyone makes a Niggun while the officiant recites the blessing over the wine with it in hand, then places it back on the table without drinking it.
:בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
Baruah Atah Adonái Eloheinu, melech haolam, borei p’ri hagafen.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who created the fruit of the vine.
- Then the spices are taken, and the Berachah is sung. Midway through the blessing, the spices are smelled.
:בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha’olam, borei minei besamim.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Creator of the spices.
- In the same way, the candle is taken, and the Havdalah blessing is sung. Some have the custom of looking at their fingernails as a sign of the desire for the light to abundantly fill those present, helping us to examine our hearts.
:בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ
Baruch atah Adonai Elohenu melech ha’olam bore meorei ha’esh.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the lights of the fire.
- The final blessing is sung, and at the end, the cup of wine is drunk, with a little poured out over the coaster.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחוֹל, בֵּין אוֹר לְחשֶׁךְ, בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לַעַמִּים, בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְשֵׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָה, הַמַּבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחוֹל
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam, hamavdil bein kodesh lechol, bein or lechoshech, bein Israel la’amim, bein yom hashvi’i lesheshet yemei hama’asé. Baruch Atah Adonai, hamavdil bein kodesh lechol.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who separates between the holy and the profane, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Blessed are You, Lord, who separates between the holy and the profane.
- At the end, the candle is extinguished in the spilled wine, and everyone says: ‘Amen.‘.
- Everyone is wished a good week (Shavua Tov), and they greet one another with a Neshikat Yad (hand kiss).
