#187: The Havdalah Candle (Part 6)
1. We discussed last week a number of the halachot concerning the berachah recited on fire during Havdalah. Although one should, of course, make the necessary preparations to have fire available, one is not obligated to exert oneself excessively to obtain a fire (Shulchan Aruch 298:1). Therefore, if one does not have any way to create a flame at home, one need not spend more than a few minutes to try to obtain a flame from someone else nearby. In that case, one does not recite the berachah on the fire. If one gets a flame later, one can recite it later on at night until dawn,
2. Poskim disagree as to whether women are obligated in the berachah on the fire. Some maintain that women are not obligated, and therefore should not recite the berachah on fire when making Havdalah themselves (Bi’ur Halachah 296:9; Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchatah 58:16; R. Ovadia Yosef, Livyat Chen 24). Others maintain that women are obligated in the berachah and should include it in Havdalah even when reciting Havdalah themselves (Tzitz Eliezer 14:43; Beer Moshe 4:28; R. Moshe Feinstein).
To sign up for the daily halacha via WhatsApp or email, click here.
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.
