Havdallah in pyjamas at Kol Chai

On Saturday 30 January the very youngest members of Kol Chai, Hatch End Reform Jewish Community celebrated havdallah in their pyjamas as Helen Shapiro explains.

Great fun was had by all – the children plaited their own challah, diligently adorned tangerines with vast quantities of cloves and then ravenously enjoyed a huge afternoon tea.

Rabbi Michael Hilton then led the families in song and the traditional ceremony of havdallah marking the end of Shabbat. Each parent held a plaited candle with the help of their children who also smelled the sweet scent of their newly decorated citrus fruit. Rabbi Michael also showed all present his etrog which his wife Claire covered in cloves 28 years ago – amazingly it still carries a beautiful aroma.

The afternoon was ended with a story before the children were taken home to bed.