~ Distinction ~
Corresponds to the Kiddush, which proclaims the holiness of Shabbat and festivals. Both are attributed to the Men of the Great Assembly, who functioned during and after the Persian period of Jewish history, about 500-300 before the common era. The Havdalah, recited over wine, consists of four benedictions: over wine, spices, light, and the distinction between the sacred and the profane, between light and darkness, between Yisrael and the nations, between the seventh day and the six workdays.
In Talmudic literature, great importance is attached to the Havdalah: future salvation as well as material blessings are promised to those who recite the Havdalah over the wine cup. "He who resides in Yisrael, he who teaches his children Torah, and he who recites the Havdalah at the conclusion of the Shabbat will enter the Olam Habah (World to Come)" (Berachot 33a).
Birkat Havdalah:
Baruch atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam bore' minei vesamim
Baruch atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam bore' m'orei ha-esh
Baruch atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam ha-mavdil bein kodesh lechol] bein or lechoshech bein Yisrael la-amim bein yom hashevi'i lesheshet yemei ha-ma'aseh Baruch atah Hashem ha-mavdil bein kodesh lechol
The mnemonic device YaBNeH [Yayin-wine, Besamim-spices, Ner-light, Havdalah-separation/distinction) has been given for remembering the order for Havdalah of Shabbat to weekday (Berachot 52a; also Orach Chayim, 296:1). Between Shabbat and festival the mnemonic device is YaKNeHaZ (Yayin, Kiddush, Ner, Havdalah, and Zeman) and for Yom Kippur to weekday it is YeNaH (Yayin, Ner, and Havdalah) (Sefer Hamanhig, par. 76).
Each benediction, pronounced with a symbolic act, has specific significance:
Yayin: Wine is used as a symbol of joy and celebration. The Talmud comments, "A person in whose house wine is not poured like water has not attained the state of blessedness." (Eruv 65a) It is customary to pour the wine into a cup so that it overflows, to depict Divine blessing.... as symbolic of the overflowing blessing expected in the coming week. The wine is also used to douse the Havdalah candle, to indicate that the candle was lit to comply with the spedific precept of Havdalah. The custom of dipping the finger in the wine of the Havdalah and passing it over the eyes alludes to Tehillim 19:9, where G-d's commands are described as "enlightening the eyes." These usages are not applicable whenever the Havdalah is recited as part of the Kiddush for festivals. In addition to the Havdalah over wine, there is another Havdalah inserted in the fourth benediction of the Shemoneh Esrei. In the Sefardic tradition it is customary to put a drop of wine behind the ears, in back of the neck, or over the eyes, and in the pockets as a sign of good fortune for the coming week. (TSLC, pp. 228, 239)
Basamim: According to Maimonides [Rambam], the symbolic use of fragrant spices is to cheer the soul which is saddened at the departure of the Shabbat. We inhale the aroma of the spices because during the Shabbat man is given a neshamah yeteirah
Ha-Esh [Ner]: A twisted candle of several wicks is used , because the phrase m'orei ha-esh (the illuminations of the fire) is in the plural. Also, the plural form used when making the blessing over light refers to the different colors contained in the flame: red, white, bluish green. (Ber. 52b; also MB, 298:2) The blessing of light is to commemorate Adam's awareness of being able to kindle a light. He was born on the sixth day of Creation and darkness never descended on earth until the following night. When he saw the sun go down for the first time on Saturday night, he was terrified. G-d gave him the intelligence to take two stones and strike them together. In this manner did man first discover fire. When Adam saw the flame, he exclaimed with gratitude, "Blessed be He, the Creator of light!" (Kol Bo; also Pes. 54a and Bereishit Rabbah 11:2) According to a Talmudic legend, fire was one of the things G-d had left uncreated when Shabbat set in; but after the close of the Shabbat, G-d endowed man with divine wisdom. "Man then took two stones, and by rubbing them together produced fire..." (Pesachim 53b). While pronouncing the benediction over the light it is customary to gaze at the fingernails or palms of the hand. Looking at the nails, in their unceasing growth, is a symbol of the prosperity which, is hoped, the week will bring. (Kol Bo; also Tur in the name of Hai Gaon) The palms of the hand are looked at because the lines of the hand signify something by which to be blessed. (MB, 298:8) Also, the reflection of the light on the fingernails causes the shadow to appear on the palm of the hand, thus indicating the distinction "between light and darkness."
Customarily, Havdalah should be said while sitting, however, the practice is to stand (Otz Hat, vol. 2, p. 868; cf. Baer, Sidd Avod Yis. p. 311) as one accompanies the departure of the Shabbat, that is, to be compared to escorting a king when he departs. (MB, 296:27)
Women are obligated in Havdalah as they are obligated in Kiddush. (MB, 296:34) Rabbi Isaiah Horowitz, known as the Sheloh from the initials of his chief work Sheni Luchot ha-Brit (The Two Tablets of the Covenant)1, says that women do not drink of the wine of the Havdalah, in allusion to the guilt incurred by Chavah when she gave some of the forbidden fruit to Adam, which is said to have been the juice of grapes.
When making Kiddush in the synagogue on Friday night, it is customary to do so before Aleinu, whereas on Saturday night Havdalah is made after Aleinu. The reason for this procedure is that we are hasty to usher in the Shabbat with Kiddush, but making Havdalah after Aleinu prolongs the Shabbat. (Sefer Matamim - Warsaw, 1889, Sabbath, par. 184)
The concept of Havdalah is ordained by the Torah as part of the general mitzvah to "Remember the Shabbat," the implication being that its differentiation from other days must be verbalized (Rambam - Hilchot Shabbat 29:1).
With the departure of the holy Shabbat and the onset of the work week, it is essential to be conscious of the differences between sanctity and secularity. In explaining why the first mention of the separation is made in the Shemoneh Esrei blessing for wisdom, the Sages explain: "If there is no wisdom, how can one differentiate?" Clearly, then, to distinguish is a function of intelligent reasoning. It is incumbent, therefore upon each Jew to be conscious of the sharp difference between the holiness he has just been experiencing and the sharply lower level of spirituality by which he is about to descend.
Havdalah is traditionally when three stars are visible in the sky, appoximately 20 minutes after nightfall.
Because they loath to lose their extra soul (neshamah yeteirah), many Chasidim put off the Havdalah ceremony as long as possible, sometimes until long past midnight. [There are even instances of those who extended the Shabbat until Wednesday, when they began preparing for the coming Shabbat!] Some interpret this 'second soul' as identified with the Shabbat Queen, the Shechinah, who is welcomed every Shabbat. Technically speaking, the arrival of the end of the Shabbat is defined by the ability to recognize three stars, as stated in Mishnah Brachot 1:1. It is at this precise time that a Mitnaged would say Havdalah, but many Chasidim ignored the stars and continued to study Torah for several more hours, unwilling to let go of the spirit of the Shabbat that they so loved.
The below story indicates this interpretation of the Law was frowned upon by the Mitnagedim. And according to Rabbinic lore, those punished in Gehenna are set free during the Shabbat, but then is forced to return to Gehenna promptly at the end of the Shabbat according to the interpretation that person espoused while living.
The holy Reb Shmelke lived next door to a mitnaged, a fierce opponent of the Chasidim, who understood the letter of the Law in the most rigid way. Therefore he performed Havdalah as soon as three stars appeared in the sky. Reb Shmelke, on the other hand, continued to observe the Shabbat far into the night. And this bothered his neighbor to no end.
This neighbor took it upon himself to save Reb Shmelke from this transgression. So as soon as three stars appeared, he would open his window and shout: "Three stars! Time for Havdalah!" These shouts would disturb Reb Shmelke's reveries. Nonetheless, Reb Shmelke restrained himself and never said anything about it to his neighbor. Instead, he continued to savor the Shabbat for many hours after his neighbor had reminded him that the Shabbat was over.
Seeing that he had failed to convince Reb Shmelke to change his ways, the neighbor decided on a more drastic approach. As soon as the three stars appeared, he went outside, picked up some pebbles, and threw them through Reb Shemlke's window. One of those pebbles struck Reb Shmelke, tearing him from the arms of the Shabbat Queen. And Reb Shmelke not only felt the pain of his own loss, but knew as well that his neighbor had made a terrible mistake. And before many months had passed, the neighbor became sick and died.
Some months after that, when Reb Shmelke was sitting at the Shabbat table, about the time the three stars first appeared, he suddenly smiled mysteriously. And he mumbled the words "From below they look above, from above, below." None of his Chasidim understood what he meant, but Reb Shmelke refused to tell them until the end of the Shabbat. Then he said: "The soul of our neighbor was sent to Gehenna for his sins, where he is punished all week long but spared on the Shabbat. But as soon as three stars appear, the angels drag him back to Gehenna. And all the way there he shouts, 'But Reb Shmelke is still celebrating the Shabbat!" [Eastern Europe: 19th century. This story is attributed to Miriam of Mohilev, the sister of Reb Shmelke, who is said to have told it to Reb Abraham Yehoshua Heschel, the Apter Rebbe].
Definition: The ritual [using wine, multi-wick candle, and spices] marking the end of the Shabbat [and holidays] and the beginning of the rest of the week. It acknowledges the distinction between the holy and normative or the sacred and profane in time.
(Click note to listen 
)
Baruch atah Hashem Elokeinu Melech ha-olam bore' peri ha-gafen
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates species of fragrance.
Blessed are You, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, Who creates the illuminations of the fire.
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who separates between holy and secular], between light and darkness, between Yisra'el and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of labor. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who separates between holy and secular.
