Ending Shabbat: Havdalah

ShabbatShabbat is the Sabbath day, the Day of Rest, and is observed from Friday night through Saturday night. Is set aside from the rest of the week both in honor of the fact that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world. On Shabbat, many Jews observe prohibitions from various activities designated as work. Shabbat is traditionally observed with festive meals, wine, challah, prayers, the reading and studying of Torah, conjugal relations, family time, and time with friends. ends when three stars are visible in the evening sky. HavdalahLit. Separation A ceremony performed on Saturday night to mark the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the week, using wine, a braided candle, and sweet-smelling spices. means, literally, separation. It is the ritual that distinguishes between the sacred time of Shabbat and the ordinary time of the rest of the week. Incorporating candles, wine, and spices, havdalah appeals to our senses as we leave the pleasure of Shabbat behind. Many people also use the time occurrence or symbols of havdalah as a basis for other rituals, building on its themes of separation, distinction, and new beginnings.