Hawdala
Hawdala , Habdalah or in Yiddish Hawdole ( Hebrew: distinction , separation ) is a religious ritual in Judaism that marks the end of Shabbat and the beginning of the new week on Saturday evening at nightfall . This point in time is when three middle stars are visible in the sky or - depending on the weather - would be visible. The ceremony is also celebrated at the end of a festival other than Shabbat.
Blessings
Wine blessing
After raising the kiddush mug filled with kosher wine , kosher grape juice or any other drink (besides water) , the following words are spoken:
- Behold, God is my help, therefore I am full of confidence and know no fear; for my victory and song is God, God was my help. So draw water in joy from the springs of help! Help is with God, your people your blessing Sela . God Zewaot is with us. The god Jakows Sela lift us up. The Jews once had light and joy, bliss and dignity, so may we too! I lift up the cup of salvation and cry out in the name of God.
Then the blessing is said over the wine:
- Blessed are you, God our God, King of the world, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
If another drink is taken instead of wine, the following blessing is said:
- Blessed are you, God our God, King of the world, who created everything through his word.
Spice blessing
After the mug has been put back, the besamim can with the spices is grasped and continued:
- Blessed are you, God our God, King of the world, creator of the different kinds of spices.
The smell of the aromatic spices in the container is then inhaled.
Blessing of light
The hands are then stretched towards the light of the braided, multi-wicked hawdala candle so that it is reflected in the fingernails, with the following being spoken:
- Blessed are you, God our God, King of the world, creator of the light flames of fire.
It reminds of the creation of light on the first day of creation. The mug is picked up again and recited:
- Blessed be you, God our God, King of the world, who is separated between the sanctuary and the unsanctified, between light and darkness, between Israel and the peoples, between the seventh day and the six working days, blessed be you, God, between the sanctuary and the unsanctified divorced.
Finally, the candle is put out in a plate with the overflowing wine from the kiddush cup. The leftover wine is drunk. As soon as the candle is extinguished, according to the custom, a finger is dipped into the wine and the eyelids are moistened with it. Jews from North Africa speak Psalm 19.9 EU :
- The Lord's commandments are louder and light up the eyes .
Differences on other holidays
If it is not Shabbat but a different feast day, the blessings about the spices and the light are omitted. The last blessing then says: the one divorced between the feast day and the working days. If the day following Shabbat is a public holiday, it is said: the one divided between holy and holy .
Meaning and history
The Hawdala is already mentioned in the Mishnah (Ber 5.2). The smell of the spices is supposed to remind of the coming Shabbat and give strength for the coming week. Rabbi Simeon ben Lakisch (2nd half of the 3rd century) is ascribed the tradition that God gives people an additional soul ( Neschama jetera ) on the eve of Shabbat , which is taken from him again at the end of Shabbat. As soon as the Shabbat soul leaves the person, it should enjoy the scent of the holy day again through the spices. According to another interpretation, the “everyday soul” of the human being should be held back by this very fragrance.
similarities
There are similarities to the Newweling , which is used in Mainz on All Saints 'Day and All Souls' Day, and to the wax stick , which is still widespread in Bavaria today.
literature
- Philo-Lexicon. Handbook of Jewish Knowledge . [1936]. Jewish publishing house in Suhrkamp Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1992.
- S. Ph. De Vries: Jewish rites and symbols. [1968]. Rowohlt, Reinbek near Hamburg 1992.
- Alfred J. Kolatch: Understanding the Jewish World. Six hundred questions and answers. Fourier, Wiesbaden 1996.
- Julius Hans Schoeps (Ed.): New Lexicon of Judaism. Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Gütersloh 2000, ISBN 3-579-02305-5 .
- Felicitas Heimann-Jelinek : "The Hawdala." In: Have a good week! Jewish towers from Schwäbisch Gmünd. Einhorn-Verlag 2001. pp. 95-115.
- Ursula Pfistermeister: wax folk art and custom - a book for collectors and lovers of old things. Volume 1, Verlag Hans Carl, Nuremberg 1982, ISBN 3-418-00468-7 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ursula Pfistermeister; P. 95 and p. 98.