Havdalah Without Wine

Q. What if I don’t have any wine. Can I recite Havdalah on bread?

A. Shulchan Aruch (OC 296:2) writes that one may not recite Havdalah on bread. Mishnah Berurah (296:7) explains that although Kiddush can be recited on bread, that is because Kiddush is connected to the meal. Kiddush must be said in the same place where one will be eating their meal. However, Havdalah is not connected to any meal, so Havdalah may not be said on bread. If one does not have wine or grape juice for Havdalah, one may use chamar medina (local “wine”), i.e., beer or other drinks that are commonly drunk in that city. Igros Moshe (OC II:75) writes that one may not use soda, or any drink that is typically drunk just to quench one’s thirst for Havdalah. If wine is not available, one may only use a drink that would be offered to honor a guest, such as beer, tea or coffee.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.