havdalah

Definitions

• "literally 'separation'. The ceremony that marks the end of [the Sabbath] on Saturday evening" (JPS)

Example Sentences

• "Come to our house after havdalah."

Languages of Origin

• Textual Hebrew

Etymology

• הבדלה

Who Uses This

• Religious: Jews who are engaged in religious observance and have some Jewish education

Regions

• North America

Dictionaries

• The New Joys of Yiddish, by Leo Rosten and Lawrence Bush (New York, 2003[1968]).
• The JPS Dictionary of Jewish Words, by Joyce Eisenberg and Ellen Scolnic, (Philadelphia, 2001).
• The Joys of Hebrew, by Lewis Glinert (New York, 1992).

Alternative Spellings

havdole, havdala

Notes

• There are three main ritual objects used during the ceremony: a double wicked candle, wine or grape juice, and spices.