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...
Counting a Minor Towards a Minyan
The Earliest Time for Wearing a Talit With a Beracha
Is the Haftara Recited With Berachot if the Congregation’s Only Sefer Torah is Found to be Pasul?
The Status of a Relative Through Marriage With Respect to Testimony
If a Witness is Related to a Litigant or to Another Witness
Birkat Kohanim – If One Recites the Amida During Birkat Kohanim; The Kohanim’s Prayers Before and After Birkat Kohanim
Reading Tehillim or Other Parts of Tanach at Night
Some Laws of Tzedaka (Charity)
Interlocking the Fingers of the Right Hand with the Fingers of the Left Hand
Removing One’s Shoes Before Going to Sleep
Learning Torah Out Loud
Saying 'Yihee Ratzon ... SheTivne (Build) Bet HaMikdash' At The End Of The Amidah After Taking 3 Steps Back
Is it Forbidden for a Kohen to be in the Same Room as Ashes of a Dead Body?
If Fewer Than Six Men at a Minyan at Minha is Not Fasting on a Fast Day
Sleeping on Clothing Can Adversely Affect One’s Memory
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found