Reconstructing Ritual with Class Consciousness

[Rabbi Yoḥanan] said to [Rav Shemen bar Abba]: Initially, they established that havdala is to be recited in the Amida prayer.

When they became wealthy, they established that havdala is to be recited over the cup of wine.

When they became impoverished, they again established that it was to be recited in the Amida prayer.

And they said: One who recites havdala in the Amida prayer must recite havdala over the cup of wine as well.

(7) What is meant by Sabbath delight? The sages explained this by declaring that one should prepare rich food and fragrant beverages for the Sabbath as much as he can afford. The more anyone spends for the Sabbath and the preparation of varied tasty food, the more praise he deserves. If, however, he cannot afford this, he may fulfill the Sabbath-delight requirement by preparing anything like a vegetable stew in honor of the Sabbath. He is not obligated to strain himself, begging from others, in order to eat much on the Sabbath. The ancient sages said: "Rather make your Sabbath a weekday [with regard to festive meals] than be dependent on people."

(8) If a person is comfortably rich and all his days are like Sabbath, he should eat different food on the Sabbath as a mark of distinction from the weekday food. If no change is possible, he should at least modify the schedule of his meals by eating later or earlier than usual.