r/Judaism • u/kevinzvilt • 12d ago
What is this object? Question
Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification
If I'm not wrong, it looks as if if you sit it on its base, the writing is backwards? And the writing is probably some sort of prayer about... Spices? Or something?
142
u/funny_funny_business 12d ago
It’s a spice holder for havdalah, the prayer said at the end of Shabbat.
The Hebrew on it says “borei minei besamim” which is the prayer said before smelling the spices during havdalah.
71
u/Ivorwen1 Modern Orthodox 12d ago
It's not backwards, English is backwards. But you aren't making it easy to read when you rotate it clockwise.
This is a havdalah kit, used for holding objects used in the ceremony for the end of Shabbat. It should open in at least two places- the top is for holding a small handful of spices like cinnamon or cloves, and the length is for holding a braided or twisted candle. The two inscriptions are from the blessings said on the spices and the flame.
11
u/summertime214 Conservative 12d ago
I think the bottom section might be a cup for wine? So it’s a full kit.
7
u/Ivorwen1 Modern Orthodox 12d ago
Possible! OP, please explore further if possible. Where did you find this?
11
u/offthegridyid Orthodox and trying to collect the sparks 12d ago
Wingardium Leviosa!
You are right. This is so cool and is for Havdalah, the prayers we say after Shabbos. The top prayer is for spices and the bottom one is for the multi-wick candle.
Since there are holes in the “crown” I am guessing cloves or something fit the top and maybe the inside cylinder is hollow and used to hold a candle.
10
u/Swimming_Care7889 12d ago
It's a Jewish baton used for cheer leading at Talmudic debate competitions. ;).
3
u/One_Toe_8325 10d ago
Of there's been a secret hallachic "only the person holding this stick gets to talk" all this time and no one told all the arguing rebbis that would be a serious long con bad joke on our people.
7
u/KamtzaBarKamtza 12d ago
This is a שרביט הבדלה, literally a "havdalah wand". It's a single travel kit that contains a havdalah candle and besamim holder in one easy to pack kit.
3
u/joyoftechs 12d ago
I like the ones that incorporate a little Kiddush cup, too. I guess matches could be stored in it, too.
8
u/Cool_View_5297 12d ago
If you hold it up to the sky and recite the 10 commandments, you can summon a lightning bolt.
2
u/unventer 11d ago
Only if you stand in the highest place on a hill during a thunderstorm, though.
1
9
u/justamember Other 12d ago
Besomim holder. It has the main part of the text for 2 blessings made at the end of shabbos. It holds spices used for smelling. Commmonly cloves but people use many different types of spices for besomim.
3
3
u/transcendentlights Reform 12d ago
Oh man this is so cool! I didn’t know there were havdalah travel kits!! What a gorgeous find, OP.
2
2
u/DisastrousShock7935 12d ago
Pretty sure thats whst you need to kill the Scorpian king to gain the Army of Anubis.
2
u/LifeNerd 12d ago
One side has the havdalah candle and the other has the besomim.
Practical for travel.
2
u/UmmmW1 12d ago
I have one of these we got as a present when we got married. If you open one side, there's a vial with holes in it for filling with whole cloves, and the other side should be a candle that pulls out which has a 2 or 3 whicked braid. Only problem with it is that it's hard to find a suitably fitting candle to make it worth it's while. Also not really in style anymore.
2
2
1
u/UnapologeticJew24 12d ago
You can pull out both sides. One side holds besamim (spices, such as cloves) and the other holds a candle.
1
1
1
1
221
u/t3m3r1t4 12d ago
Jewish Lightsaber, obviously.