Arukh HaShulchan, Orach Chaim 266:16-23

Hook

Imagine the lingering scent of myrtle and cloves, a symphony of warm spices mingling with the radiant glow of many flames, as Shabbat gently recedes, ushering in the new week with a blessing for light and life. This is the enduring spirit of Sephardi and Mizrahi tradition, a heritage steeped in wisdom, poetry, and a profound reverence for every sacred moment.

Context

Place

Our journey through Sephardi and Mizrahi heritage spans an immense tapestry of lands, each thread vibrant with unique communal expressions. From the storied intellectual centers of Al-Andalus—medieval Spain—where Jewish thought, poetry, and philosophy flourished alongside Islamic civilization, to the sun-drenched shores of North Africa, encompassing Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, and across the vast expanses of the Ottoman Empire, which cradled communities in Turkey, Greece, the Balkans, Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. We trace paths further east to the ancient Jewish presence in Persia (Iran), the distinct traditions of Yemen, and even to the remote communities of Bukhara and India. These diverse locales were not merely geographical points but crucibles where Jewish life interacted richly with surrounding cultures, absorbing influences while meticulously preserving and enriching their own distinct customs and interpretations of Torah. This vibrant interplay fostered a mosaic of practices, each a testament to resilience and profound spiritual creativity.

Era

The historical sweep of Sephardi and Mizrahi Jewry stretches from the Geonic period, roughly the 6th to the 11th centuries CE, which saw the flourishing of the great academies in Babylonia, through the unparalleled Golden Age of Spain (10th-15th centuries). This era produced intellectual titans like the Rambam (Maimonides), Rav Yehuda Halevi, and Rav Shmuel HaNagid, whose works continue to shape Jewish thought globally. Following the tumultuous expulsions from Spain in 1492 and Portugal in 1497, these communities embarked on new chapters of migration, establishing thriving centers across the Ottoman Empire, the Low Countries, and eventually the Americas. This continuum, extending into the modern day, is characterized by an unbroken chain of transmission, where ancient customs, legal interpretations (halakha), and liturgical poetry (piyut) were not just preserved but continually adapted and celebrated, ensuring their vitality across millennia and myriad geopolitical shifts.

Community

Sephardi and Mizrahi communities, while incredibly diverse in their localized minhagim (customs), share a foundational unity rooted in a deep respect for a particular stream of rabbinic authority and a distinctive approach to Jewish law and spirituality. Unlike some other Jewish traditions that might emphasize specific later codifiers, many Sephardic and Mizrahi communities hold the rulings of the Rif (Rabbi Isaac Alfasi), the Rambam, and especially the Beit Yosef (Rabbi Yosef Caro's Shulchan Aruch) as paramount. This shared legal framework, however, provided ample room for a vibrant efflorescence of local customs, influenced by specific regional rabbinic giants and the broader cultural milieu. These communities often wove mystical traditions, philosophical inquiry, and intricate liturgical poetry into the fabric of daily life, creating a textured Jewish experience that values both rigorous scholarship and profound aesthetic expression. The emphasis on community solidarity, the preservation of unique family traditions, and a deep, often outward, manifestation of Jewish pride are hallmarks of these venerable communities.

Text Snapshot

The Arukh HaShulchan, in Orach Chaim 266:19-22, illuminates a beautiful Sephardi practice concerning the Havdalah candle:

"One should endeavor to use at least two wicks for the Havdalah candle, for the blessing is recited over 'lights of the fire' (מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ) in the plural. And it is the custom of the Sages of Spain to use a single, artfully crafted candle, known as a ner sha'ashu'a, from which many wicks emerge, thereby fulfilling this beautiful requirement with splendor. Even if these wicks are separated, so long as they are held together, it is permissible."

Minhag/Melody

The Radiance of Me'orei Ha'Eish: The Sephardi Havdalah Candle

The passage from the Arukh HaShulchan brings us directly to the heart of a cherished Sephardi and Mizrahi minhag: the distinctive approach to the Havdalah candle. When we recite the blessing Borei Me'orei Ha'Eish – "Who creates the lights of the fire" – the plural form, me'orei, is understood not merely as a poetic flourish but as a halakhic imperative to visually experience multiple sources of light. This interpretation, deeply rooted in the traditions of the Sages of Spain and perpetuated across diverse Sephardi and Mizrahi communities, gives rise to the practice of using more than one wick for the Havdalah candle.

For many, this is achieved through the use of a ner sha'ashu'a, often translated as a "delightful candle" or "plaything candle," though its true meaning conveys an object of beauty and enjoyment, a hiddur mitzvah – an embellishment of the commandment. Imagine a single, substantial candle, often intricately designed or adorned, from which several individual wicks emerge. This elegant solution simultaneously fulfills the requirement for multiple lights and embodies the aesthetic appreciation so central to Sephardi observance. In communities from Morocco to Syria, from Iraq to Yemen, families have preserved or commissioned these special candles, passing them down as treasured heirlooms or acquiring new ones as symbols of familial continuity and devotion. The act of lighting this multi-wicked candle becomes a moment of heightened visual splendor, where the convergence of several small flames into a single, robust glow symbolizes the unity and strength of the Jewish people emerging from the sanctity of Shabbat into the challenges and opportunities of the week.

Beyond the ner sha'ashu'a, other communities achieve the plural me'orei ha'eish by simply holding several individual candles together. Picture a Syrian Jewish family in Brooklyn, or a Moroccan family in Montreal, carefully gathering two, three, or even more Shabbat candles, binding them gently with a small ribbon or simply cupping them in hand, their flames merging into a singular, intensified radiance. This practice, while perhaps less ornate than the ner sha'ashu'a, carries the same profound symbolic weight: the conscious generation of abundant light, representing blessing, prosperity, and the clarity needed to navigate the coming week. The light of Havdalah is not just about marking time; it's about drawing down a spiritual illumination that will guide us until the next Shabbat.

Melodies of Transition: The Soundscape of Havdalah

While Havdalah itself is not a piyut (liturgical poem) in the classical sense, the soulful, often intricate melodies that accompany its blessings are deeply ingrained within Sephardi and Mizrahi traditions, transforming the ceremony into a rich auditory experience. The transition from Shabbat into the mundane week is marked by a blend of solemnity and hopeful joy, often expressed through the unique maqamat (musical modes) characteristic of the Middle East and North Africa.

Consider the hauntingly beautiful melodies for Eliyahu HaNavi and HaMavdil, chanted with a profound sense of yearning and anticipation. In Syrian Jewish communities, for example, the Havdalah melodies might shift through maqam Nahawand or Ajam, imparting a rich, emotional depth to the prayers. The voices rise and fall, sometimes in unison, sometimes with subtle improvisations, carrying the weight of generations of devotion. These tunes are not merely background music; they are an integral part of the minhag, passed down orally, generation to generation, ensuring that the spiritual essence of Havdalah is felt not just intellectually but deep in the soul. The sound of these melodies, often accompanied by the gathering of families, the scent of spices, and the visual splendor of the multiple flames, creates a multi-sensory experience that is both intensely personal and profoundly communal, reinforcing the message of divine blessing and guidance as we step back into the world. The notes themselves become a form of light, illuminating the path forward.

Contrast

A beautiful point of divergence, reflecting the diverse interpretations within Jewish law, can be observed in the Havdalah candle itself. As we've seen, many Sephardi and Mizrahi communities, following the Arukh HaShulchan and earlier authorities, emphasize the literal interpretation of me'orei ha'eish (lights of the fire) by using multiple distinct wicks, whether through a specialized ner sha'ashu'a or by holding several individual candles together. The focus is on the plurality of flames, even if they merge into one brilliant glow.

In contrast, a prevalent custom within Ashkenazi communities is the use of a single, braided Havdalah candle. This intricately woven candle, often a visual masterpiece, typically has two or more wicks that are twisted together. The act of braiding is itself seen as fulfilling the requirement for "lights of the fire" in the plural, as the individual strands, though intertwined, still represent multiple sources contributing to the single flame. While both traditions share the common goal of fulfilling the mitzvah with hiddur (beauty and embellishment), their approaches to achieving the "plurality of lights" differ. The Sephardi/Mizrahi emphasis often leans towards distinct, visible wicks, while the Ashkenazi practice finds its expression in the symbolic unity of braided strands. Neither is superior; both are rich, meaningful expressions of a shared devotion to halakha and the beautification of Jewish practice, each reflecting the unique historical and cultural pathways of their respective communities.

Home Practice

To bring a touch of this radiant Sephardi/Mizrahi tradition into your own home, consider a small, intentional adjustment to your Havdalah ceremony. When preparing for Havdalah, instead of using a single candle (unless it's a ner sha'ashu'a), gather two or three standard Shabbat candles. Hold them gently together, ensuring their wicks are close enough to light simultaneously from one match. As you recite Borei Me'orei Ha'Eish, observe how the individual flames merge into a more expansive, vibrant light. This simple act allows you to physically engage with the plural "lights of the fire" in a way that resonates with centuries of Sephardi and Mizrahi practice, connecting you to a global tapestry of Jewish observance and imbuing your Havdalah with an extra layer of visual and spiritual depth.

Takeaway

The Sephardi and Mizrahi heritage is a luminous testament to the enduring power of tradition, intellectual rigor, and communal resilience. From the nuanced interpretations of halakha concerning the Havdalah candle, to the soulful melodies that carry the prayers through generations, these traditions offer a rich, textured, and profoundly beautiful expression of Jewish life. They remind us that within the vast unity of Torah, there is ample room for diverse practices, each shining its unique light, contributing to the magnificent mosaic of Jewish peoplehood.