Vayigash 5770: Dual Flames
In this shiur on Parshat Vayigash, Mrs. Shira Smiles explores the Midrash on the Pasuk that says that Yaakov sent Yehuda ahead to Egypt.The Midrash says that we do not say the bracha on the havdala until we get pleasure from its light. We learn this from Hashem. First he saw the light was good and then he made a distinction between light and darkness. Likewise only after we get benefit from the havdala light, can we making the distinction between Shabbat and the rest of the week.Yehuda was sent ahead to Egypt to make this havdala between the holiness of living a Torah life and the darkness of Egypt. Hashem waited for Adam to rub two stones together to create fire before sending down a heavenly fire from above. Likewise, every Motzei Shabbat when we light our Havdalah candle, Hashem sends down the light of his Shechina to guard us in the coming week.