Amongst the customs of havdalah, after Shabbat, is to make a blessing over pleasant smelling spices.
Smell is invisible and hence is considered the most spiritual of our senses – the most connected with the soul.
Shabbat is the Hebrew word whence our English word – and indeed concept – Sabbath, is derived.
It is a twenty-five hour long day to refrain from ‘doing’ and engage in ‘being’; to stop, mistakenly, believing that we control our world and hand the reins back to God instead.
The meal that ushers in Shabbat, on a Friday night, is replete with meaningful ritual – if that is not an oxymoron!
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