#149: The Mitzvah of Havdalah

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. The mitzvah of Havdalah consists of reciting the berachah differentiating between Shabbat and the weekdays over a cup of wine or grape juice. Rishonim dispute whether the mitzvah of reciting Havdalah is biblical in nature (similar to Kiddush) or a rabbinic mitzvah (see Magid Mishneh, Shabbat 29:1). All agree the cup of wine is a rabbinic requirement.
  2. The mitzvah of Havdalah consists of the following steps: A) Reciting verses related to our faith in Hashem and hopes for a good week, B) Reciting the berachah on wine of Borei Pri Hagafen, C) Reciting the berachah on besamim (spices) and smelling them, D) Reciting the berachah on the fire and raising one’s fingers toward it, E) Reciting the berachah of Hamavdil, which is the primary berachah of Havdalah. Over the next series of posts, we will address all of these components of Havdalah in more detail.

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.