The Chapters of R. Eliezer (Pirke de-Rabbi Eliezer): On Havdalah

At twilight on Saturday [evening], Adam was meditating in his heart and saying: “Woe to me! Perhaps the serpent, which deceived me, will come in the evening, and he will strike me [yeshufeni] in the heel, as it is said: Surely the darkness shall strike me [yeshufeni], and the night is light about me (Psalms 139:11).” A pillar of fire was sent to him to give illumination about him and to guard him from all evil. Adam saw the pillar of fire and rejoiced in his heart, and he put forth his hands to the light of the fire and said: “Blessed are You, O Lord, who creates the flames of fire.” And when he removed his hands from the light of the fire, he said: “Now I know that the holy day has been separated from the work day [ha-hol], for fire may not be kindled on the Sabbath day”; and in that hour he said: “Blessed are You, O Lord, who divides the holy from the profane [le-hol].” [ . . . ]

Rabbi Mana said: How is a man [adam] to say the Havdalah blessing? [He does it] over the cup of wine, with the light of fire, and he says: “Blessed are You, O Lord, who creates the flames of fire”; and when he removes his hand from the fire [flame] he says: “Blessed are You, O Lord, who divides the holy from the profane.” If he has no wine, he puts forth his hands toward the light of the lamp and looks at his nails, which are whiter than his body, and he says: “Blessed are You, O Lord, who divides the holy from the profane.” If he is on a journey, he puts forth his hands to the light of the stars, which are also of fire, and says: “Blessed are You, O Lord, who creates the flames of fire.” If the heavens are darkened, he lifts up a stone from the earth, and says: “Blessed are You, O Lord, who divides the holy from the profane.” [ . . . ]

R. Zadok says: Whoever does not make Havdalah over wine at the termination of Sabbaths or does not listen to those who perform the ceremony of Havdalah, will never see a sign of blessing. Everyone who makes Havdalah over wine at the termination of Sabbaths, or whoever hears those who perform the ceremony of Havdalah, the Holy One, blessed be He, calls him holy, His treasure, and delivers him from the affliction of the peoples, as it is said: And you shall be holy to Me (Leviticus 20:26).