An un-lit Havdalah candle

Hi,

For Havdalah, one may use a candle which was kindled before Shabbat started, but one may not use a candle which was kindled during Shabbat, unless it was kindled on Shabbat in a permitted circumstance, such as being lit as part of an effort to save a life.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 298:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Looking at one's fingers by the light of the Havdalah candle

Hi,

As part of the blessing recited over the Havdalah candle, we look at our fingers. This is a means of gaining practical benefit from the light, so that we can thank Gd for that light.

The popular practice is to look at one's fingernails and the palm of one's hand; there are various mystical reasons for choosing this particular benefit, but the simple reason is that one can use the light to see the part where the nails end and the skin begins.

Another reason which is offered is that the fingernails visibly grow, and we are asking Gd for growth. We ask for blessing to be given to the palm of our hand, meaning our work.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 298:3; Mishneh Berurah 298:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Proximity to the Havdalah candle

Hi,

At Havdalah, one must benefit from the flame's light in order to be able to recite the blessing.

Our standard is that one must be close enough to the flame to be able to identify relatively fine details (difference between currencies, for example) by its light. This is even true when one fulfills his own Havdalah obligation by answering Amen to someone else's blessing - everyone must benefit from the light.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 298:4; Mishneh Berurah 298:13)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A makeshift multi-wicked flame

Hi,

We have said that one should use a multi-wicked candle for Havdalah. What do you do if there is no multi-wicked candle available?

One solution is to use two normal candles, holding them side-by-side. The basic requirement is just that there be fuel (such as a candle's wax) surrounding each wick, so holding two individual candles together, such that their flames merge, does the job.

(Mishneh Berurah 298:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Multi-Wicked Havdalah Candle

Hi,

We try to use a multi-wicked flame for Havdalah, for two reasons:
1. It has a greater light, and
2. The blessing we recite thanks Gd for the "illuminations" of light, plural, and so we use a flame with multiple sources.

(Talmud, Pesachim 103a; Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 298:2; Mishneh Berurah 298:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

A Candle-less Havdalah

Hi,

One who does not have a candle for the blessing over fire should perform the rest of Havdalah, and then recite the blessing over fire if a candle becomes available later that night.

Once Saturday night is over, though, it is too late to recite the blessing over the candle.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 298:1; Mishneh Berurah 298:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Havdalah Candle

Hi,

There are two reasons we recite a blessing over a flame at Havdalah:
1. Per midrashic teachings, Gd gave Adam and Chavah fire immediately after the first Shabbat, and
2. All through Shabbat we were not permitted to use fire, and so we demonstrate that we are now permitted to use it.

(Mishneh Berurah 298:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Havdalah spices from Succot?

Hi,

There is an appropriate custom of using ths Hadas (myrtle branch) from Succot for a Havdalah spice, so long as it retains a strong scent, thereby using it for multiple Mitzvot.

One may not do this during Succot itself, though, when the Hadas is dedicated for its regular Mitzvah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 297:4; Mishneh Berurah 297:8)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Potpourri for Havdalah?

Hi,

The spices one uses for Havdalah may not be spices which are used to dispel or obscure a bad odor; the spices must be spices which are used to create good scents.

For example, one could not use spices which are placed in bathroom areas to "freshen" the space. One who accidentally used such spices did not fulfill his obligation.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 297:2; Mishneh Berurah 297:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Spices-less Havdalah

Hi,

One who does not have spices for Havdalah should still recite Havdalah; the spices are not a requirement. We simply use the spices to ease the spiritual transition from Shabbat to the rest of the week.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 297:1; Mishneh Berurah 297:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Which blessing do we recite for smelling sweet spices?

Hi,

One of the blessings of Havdalah is recited before smelling sweet spices.

We recite the blessing "Borei Minei Besamim (Who creates the different types of spices)," which is a catch-all for all types of spices, whether they come from bark or flowers or other materials.

Technically there are materials-specific blessings, and we use those other blessings at general times when we smell sweet spices, but for Havdalah we use this catch-all blessing in order to prevent people from making the wrong blessing; most people are not expert in the different types of spice-blessings.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 297:1; Mishneh Berurah 297:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Efficacy of the Havdalah recited in shul

Hi,

We have been learning about Havdalah.

The default assumption is that one does not intend to fulfill his Mitzvah of Havdalah with the Havdalah recited in the synagogue, but rather to perform Havdalah at home with his family.

One who actively intends to fulfill the mitzvah with the synagogue Havdalah, though, does fulfill his obligation that way.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 296:7; Mishneh Berurah 296:33)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Handedness and Havdalah

Hi,

The following issue may seem, to some, like an over-ritualization - but I view it as an attempt to sensitize us to the honor due to mitzvot.

The right hand is generally considered the more "honored" of one's two hands. Therefore, one should hold the cup of wine in his right hand throughout Kiddush.

One only transfers the cup to his left in order to hold the spices in his right hand during the blessing on the spices, and to look at his fingernails during (and immediately after) the blessing on the flame.

A left-handed person would reverse all of the instructions above.

One should avoid putting the cup down at all during Havdalah, since all of the blessings are meant to be recited over the cup.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 296:6; Mishneh Berurah 206:18; 296:29-31)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

What if I can't get a proper beverage for Havdalah?

Hi,

We have said that there is a range of acceptable beverages to use for Havdalah. But what if none of them are available to me right now?

One who cannot find wine or an acceptable substitute for Havdalah should recite the evening Maariv service, including the prayer-version of Havdalah in the Amidah as we have discussed, and then go purchase an acceptable beverage for Havdalah.

One who cannot acquire an appropriate beverage on Saturday night may not, but rather must wait to perform Havdalah.

One may recite Havdalah on Sunday, if that is when an appropriate beverage becomes available. However, if one still does not have an appropriate beverage by Sunday afternoon, one may eat without having recited Havdalah.

[Note: One may still perform Havdalah until sunset on Tuesday. However, one who recites Havdalah anytime after Saturday night does not use the flame or the spices. We'll explain this later, Gd-willing.]

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 296:3; Mishneh Berurah 296:19)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The beverage for Havdalah

Hello,

I have been asked to clarify what sort of beverage is appropriate for Havdalah, for one who cannot use wine or grape juice.

As I noted here, one may use chamar medinah - "the beverage of the land" - for Havdalah. This term is taken to refer to an important beverage.

One popular way to define an "important" beverage is that people drink it at social occasions even if they are not thirsty. Examples are tea and orange juice, as well as whiskey.

Others define an "important" beverage as a beverage which people frequently drink.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 296:2; Mishneh Berurah 272:25, 296:8-9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Drinking sitting down

Hi,

We have been learning about Havdalah.

One should sit down to drink the cup from Havdalah, even if one recited Havdalah itself while standing (as many customarily do).

This rule applies to all Mitzvot which involve consumption, such as Kiddush. Some explain that the reason we sit is in order to give the Mitzvah a sense of permanence.

(Mishneh Berurah 296:6)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Havdalah wine

Hi,


We have been learning about Havdalah.

There are those who take some of the Havdalah wine and use it to "rinse out" their eyes after Havdalah; this is intended to show love for the Mitzvah.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 296:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Overflowing the Havdalah cup

Hi,

There is a practice of filling the Havdalah cup to the point of slight overflow, for we are taught that a house will not have blessing in it if the residents do not spill their wine like water [meaning, if the hosts are miserly with their wine].

However, one should not spill too much, as that would be wasteful. [Spilling only a little is not "wasteful" since that teaches us a lesson in generosity.]

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 296:1; Mishneh Berurah 296:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Singing about Eliyahu at Havdalah

Hi,

We have been learning about Havdalah.

Some have the custom of mentioning/singing about Eliyahu the Prophet at Havdalah.

This comes from the traditional understanding that Eliyahu will herald the arrival of Mashiach, and the Talmud (Eruvin 43) says Eliyahu will not come on a Friday or on the eve of a holiday. Therefore, at the close of those days when Eliyahu could not have come, we pray that Gd send him soon.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 295:1; Mishneh Berurah 295:7)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The structure of Havdalah

Hi,

We have been learning about the Havdalah rite ending Shabbat and Yom Tov.

The basic order of Havdalah is:
1. Blessing on wine (or one of the other beverages we have discussed)
2. Blessing on spices
3. Blessing on a flame
4. Blessing of "Havdalah"

The verses we add before the blessings of Havdalah ("Hineih") are inserted in order to beautify the Mitzvah and to begin the week with verses of blessing and hope.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 296:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fasting by pregnant and nursing women

Hi,

Regarding the fast of the Tenth of Tevet, which is observed this year on Tuesday, January 6th:

Pregnant and nursing women who are greatly pained by the fast should break their fast. These women are not obligated in the first place, although the practice is for them to attempt to fast to whatever extent they can.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 550:2)

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet

Hi,

The fast of Asarah b’Tevet, the 10th day of Tevet, marks the beginning of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. It led to the destruction of the First Beit haMikdash, and the exile of the Jews to Babylon.

Tuesday January 6th is Asarah b'Tevet. Here in Allentown we fast from first light, at 6:13 AM, until the stars emerge at 5:33 PM.

As we are taught regarding every fast other than Yom Kippur, the main merit of the fast is in donating to charity the money we would have spent on food.

(Talmud, Berachot 6b; Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 549:1; Mishneh Berurah 549:2)

Have an easy and meaningful fast,
Mordechai

Role of the Eyes in Havdalah

Hi,

When one recites a blessing regarding an item (such as food), and when one performs a mitzvah using an item (such as a lulav on Succot), one is supposed to look at that item while reciting the blessing or performing the mitzvah.

Therefore, one should look at the cup during Havdalah, since the cup is an essential part of the mitzvah.

One need not look at the spices, since they are not absolutely required for Havdalah. For the same reason, one need not look at the candle, except when reciting the blessing on benefiting from its light. (For those who are wondering, "What spices? What candle?", don't worry - we'll get to them in later emails.)

Of course, one who needs to look at a text in order to recite Havdalah should look at the text, rather than the cup.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 296:1; Aruch haShulchan Orach Chaim 296:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai