[Sca-cooks] Havdalah ["Sweet" Pepper? Digression]

[Lonnie D. Harvel]

The Havdalah marks the end of a sacred time, that was usually begun with 
a berakhah and the lighting of two candles.  The Havdalah uses a braided 
candle, a kiddush cup containing wine, and a box of sweet-smelling 
spices. The braided candle represents the light of the Shabbat and the 
strands of the braid represent all the many Jewish people who make up 
one people. The wine represents the joy of the Shabbat, usually filled 
to overflowing. The box of sweet-smelling spices represents the 
sweetness of the Shabbat, and you breath it in to keep it with all week. 
There are blessings that go with each of these acts. One of the 
traditional blessings over the spices is: "Blessed are You, our God, 
Creator of time and space, who creates a potpourri of spices."  (/Barukh 
atah Adonai Elohaynu melekh ha-olam, borei/ /minei v'samim.//)/

You can probably find more details and variations online...

Aoghann

Phlip wrote:

>>Part of the ritual involves smelling a
>>box of sweet spices.
>>-- 
>>Lady Brighid ni Chiarain
>>    
>>
>
>This sounds interesting. What is the origin and purpose of the smelling of
>the sweet spices?
>
>
>  
>