Candle Of The Night

bring people to synagogue, extending the time
devoted to Shabbat observance."
Fifty years ago, Shabbat was under siege
because it was difficult for some Jews to take off
or a brief moment on
from work on Saturdays. Friday night services
were
an attempt to accommodate those who had
Saturday nights, Jewish fami-
to work on Saturday.
lies gather in a darkness bro-
But over the last 15 years, there's been "an
increasing shift toward Shabbat morning as the
ken only by the glow of a
major service, with emphasis on celebrating
Shabbat at home, so now Shabbat has expanded
single, braided candle held
from Friday evening to Shabbat noon," says Dr.
high. Standing close, savoring the calm in
Ismar Schorsch, chancellor of the Jewish
Theological
Seminary in New York.
poignant sadness of an ending, they listen to bless-
The challenge now, Dr. Schorsch says, "is to
ings and breathe in the scent of fragrant spices.
create a meaningful Shabbat afternoon experience
beginning with a late-afternoon celebration of
Suddenly, brightness and chaos intervene. The
Mincha [afternoon service], se-uda shilishit [third
Sabbath meal], singing and dancing — culminat-
phone is in use. The group scatters in individual
ing in Havdala. It is a very powerful ceremony,
directions. Once again, the words of the two-fold
putting closure on Shabbat."
For Ruth Miller Marcus, introducing the
prayer of Havdala (separation) have ended the
Havdala ceremony in her family's home last year
holy day of Shabbat and ushered in a new.week.
eliminated "the urge to break Shabbat." She says
Havdala allows for a begin-
For many, Havdala sparks
ning and an ending.
early memories of time spent
Jo
r
"We always had Shabbat,
zs.
gti
in the home of grandparents,
r
always went to synagogue,
tai
,3ge
climbing onto a chair to
but Havdala was never part
=RUMEN,.
hold the Havdala candle,
of our family observance,"
inhaling the sweet scent of
she says. She and her hus-
cloves as the spice box is
The beauty and inspiration
band, David, are members of
passed, checking for the
Congregation Beth Shalom,
of
Havdala
is
becoming
reflection of the candlelight
where she learned to lead the
on upturned fingernails.
a more prevalent ritual
religious service through her
Always part of Orthodox
involvement in sisterhood.
in
many
creative
ways.
observance, Havdala is
"Mitzvot binaalot
growing in observance in
[increasing observance of
new, creative ways — espe-
commandments] defines us
cially in the Conservative and Reform move-
as Conservative Jews, moving one step on the lad-
ments. Often signifying the start of Saturday .
der — keeping kosher, adding Havdala to our
night events, Havdala has become part of b'nai
lives," Marcus says. She and her husband now
mitzvah celebrations, spawned costly artistic
observe "all of Shabbat, not just Friday night, but
Havdala sets, inspired new music and launched
Saturday in synagogue, and then all day: reading,
online Web sites.
resting, visiting, making Havdala."
"Havdala is a warm, sensory-rich, brief cere-
As a child, Marcus remembers holding the can-
mony that families can do easily," says Rabbi
dle during Havdala in her grandparents' home.
Daniel Nevins of Adat Shalom Synagogue.
They told her, "Hold it high, Ruthie, and you'll
"Havdala is people responding to setting limits,
have a tall husband." She admits it's "just a silly
moments of transition from one state or point in
superstition," although David is 6 feet 2 inches.
our lives to another
closure."
The honor of standing on the chair holding the
Traditionally following Maariv (the evening ser-
braided candle now goes to Sydney, their 5-year-
vice), Havdala begins when three stars are visible
old granddaughter. The family — son Michael -
in the sky, indicating the start of night. Barely 100
and his fiancée Katie London, daughter Lauren,
words long, the ceremony includes wine, a multi-
Sydney's parents Howard and Michelle and her
wicked candle and a pleasant-smelling spice.
brother Ari, 16 months — have made their own
Beginning with a collection of lines from the
tradition of joining together each week for
books of Isaiah, Psalms and Esther, Havdala bless-
Havdala.
ings encompass all of the senses — the sound of
prayer, the sight and feel of the candle, the smell
Reform Observance
of spices and the taste of wine.
Within Reform congregations, it is difficult to

SHELLI DORFMAN
Staff Writer

Grant

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ssadd ened at tl
n foiulle°d
11 se;

soul tri . rejoices with the incoming holiday.
Syrian Jews commonly include rose water at
Havdala, adds Rabbi Weil. Most Ashkenazith
(German Jews)- smell cloves that are mixed with
other spices, such as cinnamon. El
— Shelti anfinan

2/4

2000

6

Conservative Observance

Among Conservative Jews, the increased obser-
vance of Havdala follows "the increasing amount
of time committed to Shabbat," Rabbi Nevins
says. "Life-cycle events on Saturday mornings

gauge the observance of Havdala in the home
because the goal of Reform is for members to
make choices from the information given, says
Rabbi Michael Moskowitz of Temple Shir Shalom.
At Temple Emanu-El, a few families have asked
Rabbi Joseph Klein for instruction on making

