One of the most revered Jewish rituals, the celebration of Havdallah at the Ashkenaz Festival is possibly the largest and most multicultural observance of this tradition taking place anywhere in Canada. Thousands of people of all backgrounds gather to sing together and awaken their senses by smelling spices, drinking wine, and basking in firelight, as the passing of Shabbes (the Sabbath) is marked. This year’s Havdallah is led by Aviva Chernick with colleagues from Beth Tzedec Congregation, in collaboration with Jewish bluegrass and Americana innovators Jacob’s Ladder.