PAINTED WOOD HAVDALAH SPICE BOX

Your family will have an extra sweet start to each new week when you include a hand-painted spice box in your Havdalah ceremony! Havdalah is a short but very meaningful closing ritual to Shabbat on Saturday night. Once we see three stars in the sky, we light a braided candle, and then say blessings for grape juice, spices, and light. The blessing for spices is Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam borei minei vesamim (Blessed are you, Adonai, Source of the universe, creator of different scents). Saying this blessing and smelling the spices helps us bring some of the magic and sweetness of Shabbat into the new week. And when you smell the spices from a spice box made by your kiddos, your week will surely be all the more special! Shavua Tov!

This example was painted by my daughter!

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:

-Small wood box (I bought this one from Michaels)
-Paint (I used acrylic)
-Paintbrushes
-To fill the spice box: cinnamon sticks and cloves

HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

(1) Paint the wood box in whatever color(s) and design(s) you like. (2) Allow the paint to dry completely. (3) Fill your box with cinnamon sticks and cloves. (4) Welcome the new week with your beautiful new Havdalah spice box!