Havdalah Service
(the close of the Shabbat)
MAN
1. Reading
"The candle with many wicks, stands tall and bright. Together as one, we gaze at the blaze of light. In the light of Shabbat we have learned more of what it is to love one another, not and holding back who we are from one another. In so doing, we stand up as one into the fullness of whom we are as the body of Messiah, lifting up the head, the Light of the world. It is He that brings Light into the darkness of life. It is as He said, they shall know who He is by the way we love one another! If instead, we the body of Messiah choose to walk in the flesh then how can He be seen in our world for who He really is? We would be covering over the Light of the World who lives in us, veiling Him from view! Our prayer is that we be reminded that we are children of the Light. Let us walk in the light as He is in the light."
WOMAN
2. Farewell Prayer
(The woman says a prayer that is a farewell to the day, and begins the Havdalah celebration.)
Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your rest. We thank You for Your Blessed Messiah Yeshua, Who is the Light of the World and Who came into the darkness of the world to redeem it into the light. May Your love fill us this night and may we bring Your light to the world. Amen.
3. Lighting the Candles
(As the woman lights the candles, remember that Elohim chose another woman, Mary, to bring forth "The Light of the World" (Yohanon (John) 8:12).)
The candles represent Creation and Redemption. They have been twisted together symbolically linking our Creation and Redemption through Yeshua.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam, boray m'oray haaysh.
Blessed are You, Adonai our Elohim, King of the universe, who creates the light of the fire.
God brings light to darkness and into our lives.
(Present the light to everyone to feel the warmth and see the brightness.)
MAN
4. Scripture
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Elohim, and the Word was Elohim. He was in the beginning with Elohim. All came to be through Him, and without Him not even one came to be that came to be. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from Elohim, whose name was Yohanan. This one came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all might believe through him. He was not that Light, but that he might bear witness of that Light. He was the true Light, which enlightens every man, coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of Elohim, to those believing in His Name, who were born, not of blood nor of the desire of flesh nor of the desire of man, but of Elohim. And the Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us, and we saw His esteem, esteem as of an only brought-forth of a father, complete in favor and truth. Yohanan bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has become before me, because He was before me.’” And out of His completeness we all did receive, and favor upon favor, for the Torah was given through Moshe – the favor and the truth came through Yeshua Messiah.
5. Wine
(The man says the blessing for the wine before pouring it. It will be poured until it overflows to show the fullness and completion of the week and the fullness and completion of Yeshua's work. It also indicates the abundance of blessings we have through Yahushua "'Test me in this,' says Almighty Adonai, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.'" -- Mal 3:10.)
The wine symbolizes Yeshua's shed blood. In Mattiyahu (Matthew) 26:27, Yeshua "took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'"
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam, boray p’ree ha-gofen.
Blessed are You, Adonai our Elohim, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
(Fill the wine glass until it overflows onto a plate. When Yeshua was on the cross, "...one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water". -- Yohanon 19:34.)
6. Reading
"As at the Shabbat table we celebrated and thanked Elohim for His every provision during the week, so at Havdalah we look to this new week ahead of us now by faith. Elohim has faithfully provided everything that we need in order to serve Him each new day. One such provision is the Ruach-given strength to let the Messiah's life flow from us in order to meet any given situation that we may encounter. In addition, Elohim has already provided what we need to obey His call in any one moment by virtue of Yeshua's life in us and in our being His new creation. Anything that He would ask of us is not complicated nor is it beyond our reach. Each moment of this coming week can be met in the place of faith on the basis of this truth. It is this portion of the Shabbat challah that we now partake and choose to help us remember this fact as this is the bread from the Shabbat table."
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam, ha-motzee lechem min ha-aretz.
Blessed are You, Adonai our Elohim, King of the universe, who brings forth the bread from the earth.
7. Spices
(As the spice box is passed, each one should take a deep breath and try to remember the fragrance.)
"As we pass the box let us inhale deeply and savor the sweet, pungent aroma. Let us hear the words of Romans 12:1 & 2 “Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of Elohim, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to Elohim, which is your spiritual service. Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of Elohim.”
Our new creation lives should be lived out consistently before the throne of Elohim like a sweet smelling aroma rising to His nostrils. Let us pass the spices and offer a prayer of thanksgiving to Elohim for this past Shabbat and this new week."
In Yohanon 19:40 - "Taking Yeshua's body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Yisraelite burial customs."
The spices signify the sweetness of life experienced in Yeshua. He said "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (Yohanon 10:10).
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheynu melech ha-olam, borey miney b’samim.
Blessed are you, Adonai our Elohim, King of the universe, Who creates various kinds of spices.
(Pass the spice box.)
8. Havdalah Blessing:
The cup of wine is taken again in the right hand as the Havdalah ceremony concludes with a special blessing that emphasizes the separation theme as follows:
"Blessed are You, Adonai our Elohim, King of the universe, who makes a distinction between holy and profane, between light and darkness, between Israel and the heathen nations, between the seventh day and the six working days. Blessed are you, O Adonai, Who makes a distinction between holy and profane."
(All present now partake of the "fruit of the vine." The Messiah desires that each of us have fullness of joy.)
9. Extinguish the Candles
(The candle will be extinguished in the spilled wine. This is symbolic of the darkness that came over the world when Yeshua died on the cross.)
Luke 23:44-46 - "It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land...for the sun stopped shining...Yeshua called out with a loud voice, 'Father, into Thy hands I commit My spirit'"
(Put out the flame in the spilled wine.)
The following is said as a remembrance to what has taken place:
... we have seen the symbols of Havdalah.
... we have tasted the wine.
...we have smelled the fragrant spices.
... and we have heard the Word of Elohim
In this way we consecrate our senses to Elohim as we return to the labor of the coming week.
10. The 23rd Psalm
(The man leads his family in saying the 23rd Psalm.)
Adonai is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of Adonai forever.
12. Conclusion of Havdalah
Heavenly Father, thank You for the blessings given to us. Thank You for sending Your Son, Messiah Yeshua. Watch over my family as they go about this week. Place a guard on each of them against Satan and His followers. Bless us as we follow Your commandments and go into the world to share the Good News of our Messiah. In Yeshua's Name we pray. Amen.
It is traditional to end with Isaiah 52:7:
"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those that bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation (Hebrew: Yeshua), who say to Zion 'Your Elohim reigns!'".
