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| Praised are Your O Lord our
God King of the universe Creator of the lights of fire. |
Barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh haolam
borei meorei haeish |
Page 299 in Siddur Sim Shalom
In bracha #42 I discussed the bracha of Havdalah.
This bracha is part of that same prayer. In that prayer we have
four separate brachot. The other three we have already diusccussed.
Havdalah consists of a bracha over wine (bracha #22) a bracha
over spices (bracha #37) a bracha over understanding the difference
between holy and profane (bracha #42) and this bracha over fire.
The candle used for this bracha is different than
other candles we use ritually. For Shabbat, Holidays, Hannuka
and Yarhtzeit candles we use candles with only a single wick.
For havdalah the candle must have a minimum of two wicks. What
is essentially created a more of a fire than a flame. While reciting
this bracha one cups their hands in front of the flame so they
are able to see the shadow created by the light on the inside
of the palm them the palms are turned towards the flame so that
one can feel the warmth of the fire.
The elements of the havdalah service in many ways
parallel the beginning of Shabbat. Just as we light candles at
the beginning, so too we light candles at the end. Just as we
say a bracha over wine at the beginning with Kiddush, so too we
end with a bracha over wine. As well, many homes are adorned with
flowers for Shabbat, so too we say a bracha over spices as we
say good bye to Shabbat. The symmetry is supposed to remind of
to carry the lessons of Shabbat to the other days of the week.
One of the great concepts of Shabbat is that we
ought to leave the world unadulterated for 25 hours. For one day
we should leave the physical world unchanged. There are groups
of Jews that will not even walk on grass on Shabbat out of a fear
of breaking a blade. We spend so much of our week controlling
our environment. We have spent much of modernity using every natural
resource we can find. Therefore, our tradtion instructs to give
the world a break. If we look carefully at the havdalah service
we see many of the physical elements utilized. Fire, earth as
represented by the wine that comes from grapes grown from the
ground, wind, as understood through the fragrances that travel
through the air.
This bracha draws our attention to fire, a potentially
destructive force but also a potentially life saving one. Fire
can be used to cook and to bring warmth and light and it can therefore,
enhance the human experience immeasurably. But when not contained,
not monitored properly it can burn out of control and de irreparable
damage. Fire is the perfect anology to human activity in general.
If we are careful with how we use the resources of this planet
then we will benefit greatly. If we wantonly destroy everything
in our path, like a forest fire ragging then this planet will
be unable to support human life.
Shabbat implores us to take note of the implact
we have on our physical world. It asks for introspection so that
we might be able to go back to the weekday with a sense of purpose
and care. Havdalah insightfully helps us make the transition with
a full compliment of senses.
Copyright © 2001 Rabbi
Yohanan Stein. All rights reserved.
New Jersey Region United Synagogue
of Conservative Judaism
PO Box 390; 1025 St. Georges
Ave
Linden, NJ 07036-0390
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2003 New Jersey USCJ. All rights reserved.
Last Updated: July 2003
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