We have been keeping Shabbat for two years now but tonight was the first time we had a Havdalah ceremony, which marked the end of Shabbat. I'm so glad we did for it added a new dimension to our understanding of His Day, of His separating the Holy from the profane. The various scripture and blessings recited over the candles and the wine and spices were beautiful and hearing them in Hebrew, which we've been studying, deepened their meaning for us.
The blessing my Husband said to bring an end to Shabbat was filled to overflowing with meaning and significance:
Baruch ata Adonai Eloheynu Melekh Ha'olam, ha'mavdil, bayn kodesh le'chol, bayn or le'choshech, bayn Yisra'el la'amim, bayn yom ha'shevi'i le'sheshet yemay ha ma'aseh.
Blessed are you, Oh L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe who created a distinction between the holy and the profane, between the light and darkness, between Isra'el and the nations, between the seventh day and the rest of the week.
Baruch ata Adonai, ha'mavdil bayn kodesh le'chol.
Blessed are You, Oh L-rd our G-d who made a distinction between the sacred and the profane.
After the Havdalah, we all jumped into work, cleaning from our meeting last night, beginning the laundry again, vacuuming and planning for our work tomorrow. It made a wonderful transition back into "normal" mode.
Shabbat is over
Shavua Tov! (good week!)
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