Havdalah With a Twist

Lawn of Granite House, April 7, 8:00-9:00 PM

As darkness comes, Dev Noily and the Omer to Honor the Earth team will overlay the Shabbat ending ritual, Havdalah, with a spirited welcome to the night that begins the first day of the week. The occasion is Omer to Honor the Earth’s first week, which recalls the words, “And God divided the light from the darkness.”

Bring any Passover sweets that linger in your house, and we will swap desserts.

Like the first day of the Creation story, the Havdalah prayer, Hamavdil, refers to the One Who divides light from darkness. Our ceremony begins when the children can see three stars, proving that the evening has arrived. Typically we hold our ceremony outdoors, with no artificial light but the braided Havdalah candle, itself a symbol of the intertwining of light and darkness, sacred and profane. At the end of the ceremony, the candle is plunged into the cup of wine. This is a moment to appreciate the gift of darkness which complements the gift of light.

Unlike the Shabbat candles which are expected to burn down to nothing, the Havdalah candle is an object of utility to be re-used many times.

We connect the symbols of Havdalah and the account of the first day to the duality of having energy on when we need it, and off when we don't. Few of us would leave tap water running in a sink when not in use, but we all leave lights or other energy devices on from time to time. By holding the lovely Havdalah ritual in mind, with its contrasting moments of lights burning and lights out, we strive to train ourselves to use energy intentionally.