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Habdalah

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McClintock and Strong's Bible Encyclopedia
• Habdalah
The Jewish Encyclopedia
• Habdalah

(הִבְדָלָה, distinction), a ceremony by which the Jewish Sabbath is divided or separated from the other days of the week. It is performed after the concluding service in the synagogue, by reciting passages of Scripture and prayers, and the use of wine and spices. On Sabbath evening four benedictions are said, one over the wine, a second over the spice the third over the light, "Blessed art thou Lord our God, king of the world, who hast created a shining light," and the last is, "Blessed art thou, Lord our God, king of the universe, who hast made a distinction (הִמִּבְדַּיל ) between the holy and the common, between light and darkness, between Israel and the other nations, between the seventh day and the other six days of work; blessed be thou, O God, who hast made a distinction between the-holy and the common." If for any reason a Jew is prevented from performing this ceremony, either at 'home or abroad, he is at liberty to substitute the following short benediction: "Blessed is he who has made a distinction between things sacred and profane." See Buxtorf, Lex. Chald. Tal. s.v. (B.P.)