DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 2.64 MB)
Preparing a Candle for Habdala When Yom Tob Falls on Mosa’eh Shabbat

When Yom Tob falls on Mosa’eh Shabbat, Habdala is combined with Kiddush, in a sequence known by the acrostic "Yaknehaz," which stands for "Yayin" (the Beracha over wine), "Kiddush" (the Beracha for the Yom Tob), "Ner" (the Beracha over a candle), "Habdala," and "Zeman" (the Beracha of "She’hehiyanu").

In order to be able to recite a Beracha over a candle on this night, some preparation is needed before Shabbat. On Yom Tob, one may light a candle from an existing flame, but one may not create a new flame. Therefore, one must prepare before Shabbat a candle that will still be burning on Mosa’eh Shabbat so he can light the Yom Tob candles and light a candle for Habdala. It is recommended to purchase a 48-hour yahrtzeit candle, as a 24-hour candle will not still be lit when the time comes for Habdala on Mosa’eh Shabbat. Alternatively, one can add some oil before Shabbat to a 24-hour candle so it will remain lit for several additional hours.

Another problem that must be addressed is the prohibition against extinguishing a flame on Yom Tob. If one lights his regular large Habdala candle, he will have to allow it to continue burning until it goes out on its own. To solve this problem, some stores sell a very small Habdala candle especially for this situation, which one lights for Habdala and then puts down, and it goes out soon thereafter. Or, one can cut two or three inches off his regular Habdala candle and connect it to a plate with its wax, and use this "candle" as the Habdala candle on Mosa’eh Shabbat. These two options – purchasing a small Habdala candle, or making one from one’s normal Habdala candle – are the preferred ways of fulfilling the Misva of the Habdala candle when Mosa’eh Shabbat falls on Yom Tob.

Summary: When Yom Tob falls on Mosa’eh Shabbat, one must light a yahrtzeit candle before Shabbat that will still be burning on Mosa’eh Shabbat, since creating a new flame is forbidden on Yom Tob. As extinguishing a flame is likewise forbidden on Yom Tob, and thus one cannot extinguish the Habdala candle when Mosa’eh Shabbat is Yom Tob, it is preferable to either purchase a very small Habdala candle for that night, or to cut a small piece of one’s regular Habdala candle and stick it to a plate, such that the candle will go out on its own very soon after Habdala.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
If the Hazan Forgot to Recite Ya’aleh Ve’yabo During the Repetition of the Amida on Rosh Hodesh
Should Two Kaddishim be Recited if a Shiur is Given Immediately Before Arbit?
Reciting “Yiheyu Le’rason Imreh Fi” at the End of the Amida
The Kaddish Before Baruch She’amar
The Value of Praying “Vatikin” and Studying Torah Before Prayer
The Importance and Significance of Birkat Ha’lebana
The Custom Among Syrian Jews Regarding the Text of “Ve’la’minim” and Other Portions of the Amida
Adding Prayers for Forgiveness and for One’s Livelihood in “Shema Kolenu”
If One Mistakenly Recited “Morid Ha’tal” Instead of “Mashib Ha’ru’ah U’morid Ha’geshem”
Should a Mourner be Called for an Aliya if He is the Only Kohen in Attendance?
May Birkat Kohanim be Recited if a Non-Jew is Present
If a Kohen Was Mistakenly Called for the Second Aliya; Calling Kohanim for Later Aliyot
How Should the Aliyot be Arranged in a Minyan of Only Kohanim, or if There is Only One Yisrael?
Birkat Kohanim – The Hazan’s Announcement of “Kohanim”; If There is One Kohen or No Kohanim Present
Birkat Kohanim in a Place Without a Sefer Torah; One Who Enters the Synagogue During Birkat Kohanim; Reciting Birkat Kohanim Several Times in One Day
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found