Havdalah

Havdalah candles in the collection of the Jewish Museum of Switzerland.

Havdalah candle, kiddush cup, and spice box
Observing the Havdalah ritual, 14th-century Spain
Hasidic rebbe reciting Havdalah

Havdalah (Hebrew: הַבְדָּלָה, romanizedhaḇdālā, lit.'separation', Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: אבדלתא, romanized: aḇdāltā) is a Jewish religious ceremony that marks the symbolic end of Shabbat and ushers in the new week. The ritual involves lighting a special candle with several wicks, blessing a cup of wine, and smelling sweet spices (Hebrew: בְּשָׂמִים‎, romanized: bǝśāmim, lit.'"besamim"', Jewish Babylonian Aramaic: בשמי‎, romanized: buśmē, lit.'spice, scent').[1] Shabbat ends on Saturday night after the appearance of three stars in the sky.[2]: 137  Havdalah may be performed as late as sunset of the Tuesday following Shabbat.[3]

  1. ^ "Havdalah: The Ritual". Archived from the original on 2 June 2013. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  2. ^ Aruch, Shulchan; Chayim, Orach. Mishnah Berurah - Sefer 3 - Part Two: Law of Shabbos (in Hebrew). Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  3. ^ "Havdalah - Halachipedia". halachipedia.com. Retrieved 28 December 2020.

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