DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1.29 MB)
Tisha B’Av: Havdala When Tisha B’av is on Saturday Night

This year, Tisha B’av begins on Mos’ae Shabbat. In such a case, a conventional Havdala is not recited. There is no wine because it is a fast, and there are no Besamim (spices), because enjoying the fragrant aromas on a day of mourning is not appropriate. We do recite the Beracha "Boreh Meoreh HaEsh" on the fire, because that was instituted specifically for Mosa’eh Shabbat.

On Sunday Night, at the conclusion of the fast, we make Havdala consisting of two Berachot: "Boreh Pri Hagefen" on the wine and "Hamavdil Ben Kodesh L’chol." The Beracha on the Besamim is not recited on Sunday night, because it is no longer appropriate. The whole point of smelling the spices is to invigorate the body on Mosa’eh Shabbat as the extra Neshama of Shabbat departs. According to the Tosafot, this is why the Beracha of Besamim is not recited on Mosa’eh Shabbat that falls on Yom Tob. Since the holiday also brings an extra Neshama, there is no vacuum to fill. Others explain that the reason is that the festive Yom Tov Seudah fills the place of the Besamim.

It should be pointed out that we do not begin the Havdala with the conventional Pesukim of Beracha: "Rishon Lesion etc." Those Pesukim were instituted to arouse joy and good fortune as the new week begins. Since in this case, the Havdala is recited on Sunday nIght, after the new week has begun, the Pesukim are omitted. The Havdala begins with "Kos Yeshuot Essa," and then the two Berachot.

If a person must eat on Tisha B’av, for Halachically approved medical reasons, they must first recite Havdala. According to Hacham Ovadia, this is done immediately on Mosa’eh Shabbat, even if they don’t need to eat until the morning. When making Havdala, they also omit the introductory Pesukim and the Beracha on Besamim, because it is still a day of mourning.


SUMMARY
On Mosa’eh Shabbat, the beginning of Tisha B’av, the Beracha on the flame is the only part of Havdala recited. On Sunday night, at the conclusion of the fast, the Beracha on the wine and "Hamavdil" is recited, with no introductory Pesukim, and without the Beracha on the Besamim.

One who is allowed to eat on Tisha B’av must recite Havdala, without the Pesukim and spices, on Mosa’eh Shabbat.



 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Purim – Appreciating the Special Sanctity of Megilat Ester
“Boreh Me’oreh Ha’esh” When Purim Falls on Mosa’eh Shabbat
Purim: When Purim Falls on Mosa’eh Shabbat
Purim – Customs Relevant to Se’udat Purim
Purim – Haircuts, Nail Cutting, Working, Eulogies and Mourners
Purim – Wearing Shabbat Clothes; Customs for Purim Night; Learning Torah on Purim
Purim – Giving the Mahasit Ha’shekel
Purim – Does the Reader Unravel the Megilla Before Beginning the Reading?
Purim- Many Laws of Megilah & Tefilah
Purim – The Procedure for the Prayers and Habdala When Purim Falls on Mosa’eh Shabbat
Purim – Drinking and Conducting Oneself Responsibly
Purim – Allusions to G-d’s Name in the Megila
Purim – The Writing of the Names of Haman’s Sons in the Megilla
The Sephardic Custom to Sing “Mi Kamocha” on the Shabbat Before Purim
Purim – Wearing Shabbat Clothes; Customs for Purim Night; Learning Torah on Purim
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found