A Time to Embrace — Havdalah Texts

(From ReformJudaism.org, with gratitude to the Union for Reform Judaism.)


INTRODUCTORY PASSAGE TO THE HAVDALAH SERVICE: HINEI EL

As Shabbat ends, the Havdalah candle is lit. It is customary to raise the cup of wine or grape juice high when the last sentence is recited and then proceed to the blessings.
,הִנֵּה אֵל יְשׁוּעָתִי, אֶבְטַח וְלֹא אֶפְחָד
.כִּי עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ יְיָ, וַיְהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה
.וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם מַֽיִם בְּשָׂשׂוֹן, מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה
.לַייָ הַיְשׁוּעָה, עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה
.יְיָ צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ, מִשְׂגָּב לָנוּ אֱלֹהֵי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה
.יְיָ צְבָאוֹת, אַשְרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵֽחַ בָּךְ
.יְיָ הוֹשִֽׁיעָה, הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵֽנוּ
,לַיְּהוּדִים הָיְתָה אוֹרָה וְשִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשׂוֹן וִיקָר.
.כֵּן תִּהְיֶה לָּֽנוּ
.כּוֹס יְשׁוּעוֹת אֶשָּׂא, וּבְשֵׁם יְיָ אֶקְרָא

Hinei El y’shuati, evtach v’lo efchad.
Ki ozi v’zimrat Yah Adonai vay’hi li lishuah.
Ush’avtem mayim b’sason mimaay’nei hay’shuah.
L’Adonai hay’shuah, al am’cha virchatecha, selah.
Adonai tz’vaot imanu, misgav lanu, Elohei Yaakov, selah.
Adonai tz’vaot, ashrei adam botei-ach bach!
Adonai hoshiah; haMelech yaaneinu v’yom kor’einu.
LaY’hudim hay’tah orah v’simchah v’sason vikar;
kein tih’yeh lanu.
Kos y’shuot esa, uv’shem Adonai ekra.

Behold, the God who gives me triumph! I am confident, unafraid; for Adonai is my strength and might, and has been my deliverance. Joyfully shall you draw water from the fountains of triumph, deliverance is Adonai’s; Your blessing be upon

Your people! Selah. Adonai Tz’vaot is with us; the God of Jacob is our haven. Selah.
Adonai Tz’vaot. happy is the one who trusts in You. O Adonai, grant victory!
May the Sovereign answer us when we call. The Jews enjoyed light and gladness, happiness and honor.
So may it be for us.
I raise the cup of deliverance and invoke the name of Adonai.

BLESSING OVER THE WINE

(Lift the cup of wine or grape juice, and recite the blessing:)

.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei p’ri hagafen.

We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

BLESSING OVER THE SPICES

(Hold up the spice box, and recite the blessing:)

.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei minei v’samim.

We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of varied spices.

BLESSING OVER THE FLAME

(Hold the Havdalah candle, and recite the blessing:)

.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam,
borei m’orei ha-esh.

We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of the lights of fire.

BLESSING OF SEPARATION

.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמַּבְדִיל בֵּין קֹֽדֶשׁ לְחוֹל, בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹֽשֶׁךְ, [בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַמִּים,] בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְשֵֽׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, הַמַּבְדִיל בֵּין קֹֽדֶשׁ לְחוֹל

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam,
hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol, bein or l’choshech,
[bein Yisrael laamim,]
bein yom hash’vi-i l’sheishet y’mei hamaaseh.
Baruch atah Adonai, hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol.

Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all: who distinguishes between the holy and ordinary, between light and dark, [between Israel and the nations,] between the seventh day and the six days of work. Praise to You, Adonai who distinguishes the holy and ordinary.

(Sip the wine or grape juice. Then extinguish the candle in the remaining wine or grape juice.)

SHAVUA TOV

Shavuah Tov!

A good week, a week of peace, may gladness reign and joy increase.

ELIYAHU HANAVI – PRAYER FOR THE PROPHET ELIJAH TO HERALD REDEMPTION

אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא
אֵלִיָּהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּי
.אֵלִיָּהוּ הַגִּלְעָדִי
בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵֽינוּ
יָבוֹא אֵלֵינוּ
.עִם מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד

Eliyahu hanavi,
Eliyahu hatishbi,
Eliyahu hagiladi.

Bimheirah b’yameinu,
yavo eileinu,
im Mashiach ben David.

May Elijah the prophet,
Elijah the Tishbite,
Elijah of Gilead,
quickly in our day come to us
heralding redemption.

(From Ritualwell.org, with gratitude to Reconstructing Judaism.)

Miriam Ha-N’viah
by Rabbi Leila Gal Berner

.מִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה, עֹז וְזִמְרָה בְּיָדָהּ
.מִרְיָם תִּרְקֹד אִתָּנוּ לְהַגְדִּיל זִמְרַת עוֹלָם
.מִרְיָם תִּרְקֹד אִתָּנוּ לְתַקֵּן אֶת-הָעוֹלָם
,בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵינוּ הִיא תְּבִיאֵנוּ
.אֶל מֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה

Miriam ha-n’vi’ah oz v’zimrah b’yadah.
Miriam tirkod itanu l’hagdil zimrat olam.
Miriam tirkod itanu l’taken et ha-olam.
Bimheyrah v’yameynu hi t’vi’einu, el mey ha-y’shuah.

Miriam the prophet, strength and song in her hand.
Miriam dance with us in order to increase the song of the world.
Miriam dance with us in order to repair the world.
Soon she will bring us to the waters of redemption.

,