Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide

Havdalah
Havdalah is the second side of the parentheses that carve Shabbat out from the rest of the
week. Havdalah, the ritual signifying the end of Shabbat, incorporates many of the same
elements as the beginning, particularly candles and wine. Just as lighting the Shabbat
candles on Friday night marks the beginning of Shabbat, so does extinguishing the
havdalah candle flame mark the end. At both we say a brachah (blessing) over the
flames, and at both we make the brachah over wine. Havdalah is a wonderful opportunity
to begin the school week, as well as end it, with a beautiful Jewish ceremony. The rabbis
tell us that it is okay to celebrate havdalah as late as Tuesday. Accordingly, it is an
important and wonderful ritual to begin the week in the early childhood center, either
with the whole school together or individually in each class. Even the youngest children
benefit from seeing the candle, smelling the spices, and singing “Eliyahu Hanavi.”
Celebrating havdalah every Monday delivers the message that life in the school runs on
Jewish time.
Havdalah actually is considered a sad time, because it means that Shabbat is leaving us,
so we imbue it with symbolism to make the transition easier. The candle has at least two
wicks, to bring together the wicks of the individual candles we light on Friday night. The
cup of wine is overflowing to symbolize the coming week, which we hope will overflow
with goodness and prosperity. The smell of the b’samim (spices) is said to be the smell of
olam habah, the world to come, and it will sustain us until Shabbat comes again. It
functions like divine smelling salts. Some people will dip their fingers lightly into the
wine that has overflowed and then brush them over their eyebrows and into their pockets
as a wish for enlightenment, wisdom, and prosperity in the week to come.
In addition to celebrating havdalah with children every week and inviting parents to this
celebration, hosting a havdalah service for early childhood families is magical. This
family havdalah service, held on a Saturday night, can be combined with a light
communal meal before – a se’udah shlishit (third meal) – a kid-friendly program such as
a pajama party, or refreshments afterward. It is best to have this program in the winter,
when Shabbat ends earlier, so it will not be too late for the children; there is a special
element added if you can have it outdoors, if the weather is cooperative and it is not
bitterly cold.
Because havdalah is so hands-on and experiential, it is a natural for early childhood.
Making it a positive, joyous and meaningful experience for the children and their families
is one way we can bring them into the larger experience of Shabbat.
Vision for Conservative Early Childhood Programs: A Journey Guide
USCJ Department of Education
Maxine Handelman
Handelman@uscj.org
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