Waiting Until Everyone Smells the Besamim
Is it considered a hefsek to wait for all participants of Havdalah to smell the besamim before proceeding to the next bracha?
The Mishna[1] teaches that on Motzei Shabbos one should recite the bracha of Besamim on spices. Although this bracha is a ברכת הנהנין and can be said at any time, Chazal deemed it appropriate to make this bracha on Motzei Shabbos when we lose our נשמה יתירה [2]. The gemara[3] discusses the proper protocol when people are gathered for Havdalah. Beis Shammai feels that everyone should recite their own bracha of בורא מאורי האש while Beis Hillel believes that one person should recite the bracha on the fire and all others should be יוצא with him in fulfillment of ברוב עם הדרת מלך. The Shulchan Aruch[4] codifies the view of Beis Hillel and the Mishna Berurah[5] applies this to the bracha on Besamim as well. Thus, the one reciting Havdalah should say the bracha of בשמים aloud and all others are to answer Amen. In addition, the Mishna Berurah critiques those who wish to recite their own bracha on the Besamim and do so while the actual bracha of המבדיל is being said, and thereby they don’t hear the brachos of Havdalah. In addition, by reciting their own bracha they are not conforming to ברוב עם הדרת מלך [6]. Interestingly, the Aruch Hashulchan[7] observes that that the common custom is for everyone to recite their own bracha on בשמים ונר [8], and he suggests that the reason is because of the delay from the moment the bracha is said and all those gathered get the Besamim to smell, so better that each individual recite their own bracha. But he certainly agrees that an individual’s private bracha should not interfere with hearing the bracha of Havdalah.
If there is a large crowd gathered, it can take some time until the spices are passed around. Would that time lapse be considered a הפסק for the individual reciting Havdalah? The Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchaso[9] writes that it is proper to alleviate the problem by have many bags of בשמים to pass around to minimize the delay.[10] However, he cites R’ Shlomo Zalman,[11] who felt that because all those listening need to smell the Besamim, waiting for that to happen is not considered a הפסק. But if those gathered didn’t get a chance to smell the spices or benefit from the fire before the one reciting Havdalah continues, what should they do? The Shemiras Shabbos[12] suggested that after the conclusion of Havdalah one should smell the Besamim and benefit from the flame but not recite a bracha, as he may have been yotzei with the bracha he heard so long as he didn’t speak - or is the break considered an interruption? However, other Poskim assume that in this scenario when one obtains בשמים after Havdalah he should recite a bracha at that time.[13]
[1] Berachos 51b.
[2] See Beitzah 16a, Tosfos Beitzah 33b d.h. Ki.
[3] Brachos 53a.
[4] 298:14.
[5] 297:13.
[6] See Mishnah Berurah 298:13.
[7] 297:7, 298:16.
[8] Achronim have offered different rationales for why this custom developed. One theory is that because the brachos on the spices and on the flame are not inherently part of Havdalah, it is not as simple for one individual to recite these brachos for others. See Aruch Hashulchan (298:16), Ketzos Hasulchan (91 footnote 8).
[9] 61:7.
[10] See Mishnah Berurah 65:4.
[11] Footnote 21.
[12] 60:26, see Mishna Berurah 297:13.
[13] See footnote 93.