Havdallah Service

Opening Song

Lo yisa goy el goy cherev, Lo yil'm'du od milchama.

Don't walk in front of me I may not follow.

Don't walk behind me I may not lead.

Just walk beside me and be my friend,

And together we will walk in the path of Hashem.

Text from Isaiah 2:4

Opening Reflection

Making a Fresh Start, Making a Difference

Havdalah means "differentiation," the act of "making a difference."

Havdalah is the ceremony in which we contemplate

the distinctions we make between the "special" day and the "common" day,

between festival days and the everyday,

between Shabbat and the rest of the days of the week.

The Havdalah ceremony heightens our awareness

of the differences we make

between days, between meanings, & between people.

The visible presence of three stars in the night sky marks the transition of Havdalah.

With this Havdalah let us bring closure to Shabbat.

With this Havdalah let us make a fresh start in a new week.

With this Havdalah let us renew our efforts to make a difference in this world.

Borrowed From: http://www.culturaljudaism.org (A Secular Humanistic Havdalah)

Havdallah Blessings

Sanctification over Wine for the Week

Praised to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe,

Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Light and joy, happiness and honor -

as they have been ours in the past,

may they be ours today.

- After Esther 8:16

Blessing of the Spices

Praised to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe,

Creator of varied spices.

Let us celebrate the breath

of all living things

and praise all essences.

Blessing of the Lights of Fire

Praised to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, Creator of the lights of fire.

Let us seek the unseen sparks

that kindle the greater lights.

The Blessing of Separation

Praised to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe,

who distinguishes between the holy and the ordinary.

Let us distinguish parts within the whole

and bless their differences.

Like the Sabbath and the six days of creation

may our lives be made whole through relation.

As rest makes the Sabbath precious,

may our work give meaning to the week.

Let us separate the Sabbath

from other days of the week,

seeking holiness in each.

Service adapted from "The Book of Blessings" by Marcia Falk

Shavuah Tov

Shavuah Tov!

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

Eliyahu hanavi

Eliyahu hanavi,
Eliyahu hatishbi,
Eliyahu hagiladi.

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

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