THE SPICE OF SHABBAT THE SPICE OF SHABBAT
Hadrian, the Roman Emperor, asked Rabbi Joshua ben Hananyah: "Why does the Shabbat meal smell so good?" Rabbi Joshua replied: "We have a certain seasoning and its name is the Shabbat, which we put into our food to produce the wonderful aroma." Hadrian immediately requested some of the spice. Rabbi Joshua said to him: "Whoever keeps the Shabbat finds how the spice works for him/her but whoever does not keep the Shabbat finds that the spice does no good." (Shabbat 119a)
Though Shabbat is over, Havdalah allows us to keep a little bit of the spice of Shabbat into the new week. As Shabbat ends, it gives friends and family time together to think about the special feelings felt on Shabbat, and how the rest of the week could be made more like Shabbat.
How can we ensure that all our neighbors can enjoy Shabbat (the day of rest), as we are able to enjoy it. What can we do to help those less advantaged than ourselves?
On Shabbat we celebrate God’s creative power. What can we do during the week to show that we appreciate God’s creation and understand our obligations to care for it rather than destroy it? Shabbat is a time that friends and families can share together. How can we make the rest of the week more like Shabbat — times of family sharing and love?
Sing together:
Eliyahu hanavi, Eliyahu hatishbi, Eliyahu, Eliyahu, Eliyahu haGiladi.Bimheira v’yameinu yavo eileinu, im mashiah ben David.
Elijah the prophet, Elijah the Tishbite, from Gilead. May you come speedily, in our time, bringing the Davidic Messiah.
Leader lifts up wine cup and recites:
Hinei El Y'shuati evtah v'lo efhad, ki ozi v'zimrat yah Adonai vay'hi li lishuah. U'shavtem mayim b'sason,mima'aynei hay'shuah.Ladonai hay'shuah al am'kha virkhatekha selah. Adonai Tzeva'ot imanu misgav lanu Elohai Ya'akov selah. Adonai Tzeva'ot ahrei adam botei'ah bakh. Adonai hoshiah hamelkh ya'aneinu v'yom koreinu.
Behold, God is my deliverance; I am confident and unafraid. Adonai is my strength, my might, my deliverance. With joy shall you draw water from the wells of deliverance. Deliverance is Adonai's; May you bless Your people. Adonai Tzeva'ot is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Adonai Tzeva'ot, blessed the one who trusts in You. Help us, Adonai; answer us, O Sovereign, when we call.
Recited together, and then repeated by the leader:
La'y’hudim hay'tah ora v’simhah, v’sason vikar. Kein tihyeh lanu.
Grant us the blessings of light, gladness, joy, and honor, which the miracle of deliverance brought to our ancestors.
The leader lifts the cup a bit higher and recites:
Kos y'shuot esa, u'v'sheim Adonai ekra.
Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha'olam, borei pri hagafen.
I lift the cup of deliverance and call upon Adonai. Praised are You, Adonai our God, who rules the universe, creating the fruit of the vine.
The cup is set down with out being drunk and the spice box is lifted. The leader recites:
Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha'olam, borei minei v'samim.
Praised are You, Adonai our God, who rules the universe, creating various spices.
The Spices are sniffed, passed around to all present and set down. The leader recites:
Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha'olam, borei m'orei ha'eish.
Praised are You, Adonai our God, who rules the universe, creating the lights of fire.
Hands are held up to the light of the candle. The leader raises the wine cup and recites:
Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha'olam,Hamavdil bein kodesh l’hol bein or k'hoshekh, bein Yisrail la'amim, bein yom hash'vi'i,l'sheishet h'mei hama'aseh. Barukh ata Adonai, hamavdil bein kodesh l'hol.
Praised are You, Adonai our God, who rules the universe, endowing all creation with distinctive qualities, distinguishing between the sacred and the secular, between light and darkness, between the people Israel and other people, between the seventh day and the six working days of the week. Praised are You, Adonai, who differentiates the sacred from the secular.
The leader tastes the wine, extinguishes the candle and everyone sings:
Hamavdil bein kodesh l’khol, chatoteinu hu yimchol. Zareinu v’chaspeinu yarbeh kachol, v’chakochavim balaila.
May the One who separates sacred and profane forgive our sins from on high.
| A Good Week (to you)! |  |
Shavua Tov! |
