Havdalah Introduction (part 2): Farewell, My Beloved
“Hashem, my
(King David in Tehillim 18:29)
Havdalah begins: “Behold, Hashem is my salvation. I shall trust and not fear, because Hashem is my might and my praise, Hashem, and He was a salvation for me. You can draw water with joy from the springs of salvation. Hashem is our salvation, Your people is Your blessing, Selah.”
The transition from Shabbat into the week is a spiritually painful moment. As we so joyfully sing Lecha Dodi, Shabbat is the source of all our blessings, including those during the week. Shabbat brings with it so much good that its departure leaves a spiritual void. This is why Havdalah opens with a series of uplifting verses from Tanach. They are a form of a spiritual salve, to assist us to entering the week while taking with us as much of the holiness of Shabbat as possible. In effect, the verses remind us that the conclusion of Shabbat does not mean that we have lost our connection to Hashem. Rather, now it is incumbent upon us to ensure that Shabbat’s beauty and warmth spills into our week by impacting positively on the way that we conduct ourselves.
We start with a declaration of pure faith from the prophet Yeshayahu (12:2), “Behold, Hashem is my salvation, I shall trust and not fear.” We are taking leave of Shabbat and, despite the fact that we are departing Hashem’s domain and reentering our own, we know that Hashem will remain with us wherever we are. But it is more than just intellectual knowledge. After having spent twenty-five hours in the most sublime spiritual state, we are certain that Hashem will guard over us in the physical realms as well. Which is why we confidently state, “I shall trust and not fear.” Because we know and we feel that our relationship with Hashem is not reserved solely for Shabbat.
And then we say, “You can draw water with joy from the springs of salvation.” These poignant words follow the previous verse in Yeshayahu. In the same way that a spring of fresh water does not dry up, so too the blessings that Hashem showers upon us will never cease. What could be a greater source of joy and comfort than to know that we will be blessed throughout the week because of the delight that we felt over Shabbat!
This is why we continue with a verse from Tehillim (3:9), “Hashem is our salvation, Your people is Your blessing, Selah.” Rashi explains that King David is declaring that it is Hashem’s responsibility to save His nation. But it is our responsibility to praise Hashem and to give thanks to Him for saving us.
The Chazon Ish writes that Hashem comes to our assistance when we reach the point of not seeing any possible salvation according to the rules of nature. It is in the most challenging of times that a person realizes that the only One they can place their trust in is Hashem.
Is there a more perfect moment for declaring our commitment to Hashem than at the end of Shabbat? The day of Shabbat transcends the physical and testifies that we, His chosen nation, are beholden not to nature but rather only to Hashem.
To be continued…
