Page:Jewish Encyclopedia Volume 6.djvu/152

Habdalah-Haber tradition, these ■words were added: "between clean and unclean [Lev. xi. 47, xx. 25]; between the upper and the lower waters [Gen. i. C, 7] ; between land and sea [Gen. 1. 10] ; between tlie priestly tribe of Levi and llie common people of Israel [Dent. x. 8]" (see Pes. 104a). The questions as to whether the benediction over the spices or that over the llglit was to be recited first, and as to whether the benedic- tion should precede or follow grace after meals, were matters of contro- versy between the schools of Shammai andllillel. TheHab- dulah formula was originally .recited in the home at the opening of the eve- ning meal or before each course (comp. Ta'an. iv. 3, which shows that there was no Friday or Satur- day evening service in the Temple; see also II e r z f e 1 d, "Gesch. des Volkes Israel," iii. [ii] 209); soon, however, it came to be recited in the synagogue also : sometimes as a special benediction of the Shemoneh 'Esreh (this was the view of R. Akiba); sometimes inserted in the last benediction but one (this was the view of R. Eli- ezer) ; but it finally became the custom to insert it in the fourth benediction (Ber. V. 2).

The Habdalah benediction was afterward ascribed to the "men of the Great Synagogue," and it was held to

have been originally instituted as a synagogal benediction ; in times of prosperity for the Jews it

was the custom to recite it over the

Origin of cup of wine at the home meal, but

Habdalah. when distress befell the people it was

recited in its original place (Ber. 33a). The many differences prevailing among the Tannaim and Amoraim concerning the Habdalah (see Pes. 103b et neq. ; Hul. i. 7 ; Shab. 150b ; Yer. Ber. v. 9b) indicate cither the lack of any fixed custom or the want of an authority able to establish the custom permanently. While Abba Arika declared the Hal)- dalah in the synagogue to be of greater importance than that at the table over the wine-cup (Ber. 33a), others promised future salvation (Pes. 113a), family continuity through male descendants (Sheb. 18b).

Habdalah Spice-Box.

(In the posseHHion o£ H. Frauberger, Fraokfort-OD-the-Maln.)

Habdalah. liight.

and material blessings (Pirke R. El. xxi.) to him who recited the Habdalah over the wine-cup. No one was allowed to eat before the Habdrdali cere- mony (Pes. 107a).

Especial importance was attached to the Habdalah light, the reason given being that it was created on the first day (Pes. 53b, 54a). Opinions differed, however, as to whether it was preferable to recite the benediction over a light produced afresh by fric- tion between pieces of wood or stone, or over a light that had been burning before (Ber. 53b ; Pes. 54a). A blazing, torch-like light was considered most appropriate (Pes. 8a). The fol- lowing legend, obvi- ously based on the connection of the Habdalah with the fourth benediction of Shemoneh 'Esreh — the thanksgiving for the reason with which God lias en- dowed man — is told by .lose, the pupil of Akiba: "Fii-e was one of the things God had left uncreated when Sabbath set in ; but after the close of the Sabbath, God endowed man with divine wisdom. Man then took two stones, and by grinding tliera together produced fire; after which he recited the benedic- tion: 'Blessed be He who createth the blaze of the fire'" (Pes. 53b). This is elaborated in Gen. R. xi. (comp. Pesik. R. 33; Yer. Ber. viii. 13b): "The light which God created on the first day lit up the world for man from the time he was created until the sunset of the following day, when flie darkness surrounding him filled him with dread and the fear that the tempting serpent would altogether overpower him. Then God furnished him with two bricks, which he rubbed together until fire was pro- duced ; whereupon he offered a benediction over the fire." According to Firlje R. El. xx., God sent him a pillar of fire, and, holding His hands against it, said the benediction over fire ; then, removing His hands, said the Habdalah benediction. Stress is also laid on the fact that one recites the benediction on seeing the blaze of the fire reflected either in the wine-cup or on the finger-nails; if there is no fire, a