הלכה על ישעיהו 12:2
Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim
“The order at the close of (i.e., after) Yom Kippur” - Containing five paragraphs.
We pray the Evening Prayer225Arvit, ערבית, the Evening Service; see footnote 144. and say the Havdalah226Havdalah, הבדלה, literally means distinction. It is a blessing that is recited at the termination of Sabbaths and festivals in order to help distinguish the holy of the holiday from the profane or ordinary nature of the regular weekday. According to the Talmud (Ber. 33a) the men of the Great Synagogue instituted these prayers. At times the prayer was said in the Amidah, but when Israel got richer and could afford it, the prayer was said over a cup of wine and, therefore taken out of the Amidah and placed at the end of the Service. The location of the prayer varied through the tannaitic period. In different rites, different prayers begin the ceremony. Most Ashkenazim recite Isaiah 12:2-3, "Behold, God is my salvation". The introduction is followed by three blessings, over wine, spices, and light, the order varied before it was set down in the Mishna.
The blessing over light was to display that work (lighting fire) was now permitted as the Sabbath or festival was over. The blessing over wine comes from the early established duty to recite the prayer over wine. There is no agreement as to the origin of the blessing over the spices. The rishonim (see footnote 16) state that it is to compensate the Jew for the loss of his "additional soul" which traditionally accompanied him throughout the Sabbath and festivals, although other reasons have also been given.
The actual Havdalah blessing itself, the blessing over the separation of holy from profane, is the fourth blessing in the ceremony. It developed over the years into various versions. It was decided that the prayer must mention at least one distinction, that between holy and profane. When a festival is followed immediately by the Sabbath the distinction mentioned is between the holy and the holy. When a festival is followed by a weekday, Havdalah may be recited over wine alone without the candle and spices. Many local customs developed around this mystical ceremony as did many special songs and hymns.
Editorial Staff, E. J., v. 7, pp. 1481-82. (the “separation”) in the benediction “חונן הדעת227According to the Sephardi ritual, the Havdalah ceremony was part of the Arvit Service (see footnote 144) and the recitation of the Havdalah was done during the Amidah (see footnote 43). It was inserted into the fourth benediction of the regular nineteen benedictions which make up the weekday Amidah, Ḥonen ha-Da'at, חונן הדעת, a prayer of thanking God for knowledge and understanding.”.
We pray the Evening Prayer225Arvit, ערבית, the Evening Service; see footnote 144. and say the Havdalah226Havdalah, הבדלה, literally means distinction. It is a blessing that is recited at the termination of Sabbaths and festivals in order to help distinguish the holy of the holiday from the profane or ordinary nature of the regular weekday. According to the Talmud (Ber. 33a) the men of the Great Synagogue instituted these prayers. At times the prayer was said in the Amidah, but when Israel got richer and could afford it, the prayer was said over a cup of wine and, therefore taken out of the Amidah and placed at the end of the Service. The location of the prayer varied through the tannaitic period. In different rites, different prayers begin the ceremony. Most Ashkenazim recite Isaiah 12:2-3, "Behold, God is my salvation". The introduction is followed by three blessings, over wine, spices, and light, the order varied before it was set down in the Mishna.
The blessing over light was to display that work (lighting fire) was now permitted as the Sabbath or festival was over. The blessing over wine comes from the early established duty to recite the prayer over wine. There is no agreement as to the origin of the blessing over the spices. The rishonim (see footnote 16) state that it is to compensate the Jew for the loss of his "additional soul" which traditionally accompanied him throughout the Sabbath and festivals, although other reasons have also been given.
The actual Havdalah blessing itself, the blessing over the separation of holy from profane, is the fourth blessing in the ceremony. It developed over the years into various versions. It was decided that the prayer must mention at least one distinction, that between holy and profane. When a festival is followed immediately by the Sabbath the distinction mentioned is between the holy and the holy. When a festival is followed by a weekday, Havdalah may be recited over wine alone without the candle and spices. Many local customs developed around this mystical ceremony as did many special songs and hymns.
Editorial Staff, E. J., v. 7, pp. 1481-82. (the “separation”) in the benediction “חונן הדעת227According to the Sephardi ritual, the Havdalah ceremony was part of the Arvit Service (see footnote 144) and the recitation of the Havdalah was done during the Amidah (see footnote 43). It was inserted into the fourth benediction of the regular nineteen benedictions which make up the weekday Amidah, Ḥonen ha-Da'at, חונן הדעת, a prayer of thanking God for knowledge and understanding.”.
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