#169: Which Drinks May be Used for Havdalah? (Part 1)

Rabbi Eli Ozarowski
  1. We mentioned previously that the first stage of Havdalah is reciting the berachah of “Borei Pri Hagafen” on wine or grape juice, like Kiddush. It is also permissible to use “chamar medinah” (other significant drink) for Havdalah instead of wine or grape juice (Shulchan Aruch, O.C. 296:2). Which drinks qualify as chamar medinah will be clarified in the next post. When using chamar medinah, one would recite instead the berachah of “Shehakol Nihiyeh Bidvaro”, which is recited on most drinks.
  2. Some hold that one should not use chamar medinah if wine or grape juice is available (R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, quoted in Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchatah, ch.60, n.6). Others hold that chamar medinah may be used if one prefers it, even if wine or grape juice is available (Bi’ur Halachah 296:2). R. Benzion Abba Shaul writes that Sephardim may use chamar medinah even if wine is available (Ohr L’tzion 2:22:2

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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.