But, honestly, there's another reason why I've never posted anything related to Havdalah. I don't do the Havdalah service. I light candles (mostly) every Shabbat, but I'm not Shomer Shabbas. Even as my religious practice has improved over the years, I've felt very uncomfortable taking on Havdalah. For me, Shabbat is basically over once the Friday night candles burn out (or once I'm back from synagogue on Saturday on the rare occasion I make it there). So, for me, performing the Havdalah ritual would be strangely dislocated from the Friday night rituals by a day of secular errands and whatnot.
That doesn't mean I'm not aware of what I'm missing. The few times I've participated in it were moving experiences. An experience I was thinking a lot about this morning, for some reason. And so, without anymore whining about the problems I cause myself, here are lovely examples of exactly what I and my family are missing every Saturday night.
Moshav Band Live @ Makor 3/17/07 Havdalah Service
Havdalah of Reb Shlomo Carlebach
Havdalah of Reb Shlomo Carlebach
Hat tip to YouTube users asilver8 and sewy18 for posting the videos.
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4 comments:
Here is another one -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NtV9_-IyLU&feature=related
And you shouldn't feel that weird. Growing in your Judaism is as simple as one thing at a time. Even if it's disconnected.
Shlomo told a story about a man he met going to a mikvah (in Waco, Texas!) before Shabbat who was obviously not religious. This man immediately addressed Shlomo as to why he was there. When he was a child, his rabbi had urged him most strongly not to listen to the lie that because he had sinned, that he could not be holy for one moment.
The commandment to separate Sabbath is its own commandment. You can be holy for the one moment of Havdalah.
Thanks for sharing that story.
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