A. It is a blessing recited over a glass of wine, some spices and  a braided lit candle, bidding farewell to the Sabbath and ushering in the new week. It literally means separation or divider, as it separates the holiness of the Sabbath from the workday week. It is a nice, multi-media ceremony, and short, usually done in under 5 minutes. Some people do little more singing and add some extras for a meaningful experience which can stretch the timing quite a bit.