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Havdalah Ritual After a Miscarriage

A braided blue and white candle burning with a bright flame against a black background.

With friends and family gathered around, the couple lights the havdalah candle. It may be held by the woman or passed among the participants as they speak.

A participant begins by reciting the traditional opening paragraph:

“Behold, God is our deliverance. I shall trust in God, and not be afraid. The Eternal is our strength and song. God shall always be with us as our protector, as it says, And you shall draw waters in joy, from the springs of deliverance. It is God who will deliver us; God’s blessings are upon us. Selah. God is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress. Happy is the one who trusts in God. God of salvation, You answer us whenever we call. And for the Jews there was light and joy, gladness and desire. So may it be for us. I lift the cup of deliverance, and call upon the name of God.”

Participant (taking the candle):

When Shabbat begins, we light two or more candles. They stand side by side, as a pair, but each alone. When Shabbat ends, we also light two or more candles. But these are bound and wound around each other, joined by the spirit of oneness of Shabbat, casting their light together as one. Like them, we gather now, at the close of Shabbat, joining with you [name the ones who suffered the loss] at this moment of sadness. Through our love and our caring, now and for a hundred tomorrows, may you know the blessings of comfort and strength.

The couple steps forward, receives the candle, and recites:

Adonai, we are blessed by the presence of our loved ones tonight. You, too, be with us to mend our broken hopes. Give us the faith to turn to You in our times of hurt. Give us the desire to turn to each other in our times of sadness. Let the rays of light that flow from this candle weave themselves into a garment of hope for my husband/wife and me, and may we soon once again see joy in each other’s eyes.

Participant:

“And Hannah arose after eating and drinking at Shiloh. She was desperately sad and prayed to God; and she cried and cried. Eli watched her mouth while Hannah prayed silently. Only her lips moved, but she did not make a sound. Eli thought her drunk and berated her, ‘How long will you go on in this drunkenness? Remove the wine from your ways.’ But Hannah replied, ‘Oh no, my lord, I have not drunk wine or any strong drink. I speak this way out of my anguish and distress.’ And Eli replied, ‘Go in peace and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked.'”

(If the couple hopes for another pregnancy, the following paragraphs should be added.)

Participant:

“Elkanah knew his wife Hannah, and God remembered Hannah, and she conceived, and at the turn of the year she bore a son…. When she weaned him, she took him up with her to Shiloh, along with meat, flour, and a jug of wine….”

Participant raises the cup:

This is Hannah’s cup, which fortified her when she turned to God, beseeching the Eternal to give her a child. Drink from it as Hannah did, and we will say to you as Eli did to her “May the God of Israel grant what you have asked.”

If the couple hopes for another pregnancy, the participant continues:

May the time come when we may once again gather here with you, with food and flour and a jug of wine, to drink from Hannah’s cup, filled to the brim with her words of joy.

Couple receives the cup of grape juice, recites the blessing, and drinks:

Barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha’olam, borei pri hagafen. Blessed are You, God of all creation, who creates the fruit of the vine.

Participant holds up the spice container and says:

On Shabbat, we are endowed with a second soul, a neshamah yeteirah, which leaves with the last light of Shabbat. To revive us as we endure this loss of soul, we smell the fragrance of at least two spices.

On this Saturday night, may these spices sustain you after the loss of the one you hoped and dreamed would be your additional soul.

Couple holds the spice box and recite:

“Let God anoint us with the oil of gladness, and let myrrh and aloe and cassia be our garments.” (Based on Ps. 45:9)

All recite blessing over the spices:

Barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha’olam, borei minei b’samim. Blessed are You, God of all, who creates a world full of spices.

Pass around the spice box for all to sniff.

Participant takes the candle and says:

Light is the beginning of all life, for God’s first words of creation were “Let there be light.” “Adonai is my light and my help” (Ps. 27:1). “You are the source of all life; by Your light do we see light.” (Ps. 36: 10)

Couple takes the candle and say:

“The Jews enjoyed light and happiness, joy and esteem; so may it be for us.”

Couple recites the blessing over the light:

Barukh ata adonai eloheinu melekh ha’olam, borei m’orei ha-eish. Blessed are You, God of all, who creates the light of the fire.

Everyone looks at the shadows cast by the glow of the candle.

Participant:

Elijah the prophet is a symbol of hope amid despair; of God’s presence in a wasteland; of tomorrow when we cannot see the end of today. Just as we invoke the presence of Elijah at every brit milah (ritual circumcision), so too tradition encourages us to invoke the name of Elijah at Havdalah. Through the stories of Elijah, we are led to believe that we, too, merit everyday miracles. We end this ceremony of Havdalah and healing by singing of Elijah.

All sing:

Eliyahu hanavi, Eliyahu ha-Tishbi, Eliyahu Eliyahu Eliyahu Hagiladi. Bim’heira b’yameinu, yavo eleinu, im mashiach ben David, im mashiach ben David. Let Elijah come soon, in our day, bringing the messiah, son of David, with him.


Used with permission of the author. Printed in Tears of Sorrow, Seeds of Hope by Nina Beth Cardin (Woodstock, VT: Jewish Lights Publishing, 1999).

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