Havdalah Before Maariv?

I daven at a Rabbeinu Tam Maariv minyan on motzei Shabbos, but keep regular Shabbos. If I wish to do melacha prior to davening Maariv, should I make Havdalah before Maariv or just say Hamavdil?

The Gemara[1] says explicitly that Havdalah should be said twice, once during davening אתה חוננתנו and then again over a cup of wine. The gemara adds that if one made Havdalah over a cup of wine before davening Maariv, nevertheless, they must insert Havdalah in Tefilah. While the gemara is not explicit as to the proper order of the two Havdalahs, the gemara does say that the primary mitzvah is the Havdalah said in tefillah[2] and in a traditional setting this mitzvah of Havdalah is performed first, followed by Havdalah with a cup of wine.[3] In fact, the Magen Avraham[4] indicates exactly this that Havdalah in Tefilah should be said before Havdalah on a cup of wine. Moreover, based on the rule of תדיר קודם it is proper to daven Maariv (which includes אתה וננתנו) before reciting Havdalah on wine. Nevertheless, it is clear in the gemara that doing it in the reverse order is feasible and the Poskim accept that it can be done.[5]

If one lives in an area where the only Maariv minyan is after Rabbeinu Tam but he wishes to do melacha prior, what sort of Havdalah must he say? The gemara[6] says that melacha is prohibited until havdalah is said. The gemara adds that some form of המבדיל בין קודש לחול also allows one to do melacha. Rashi[7] understands that merely saying those few words allows one to do melacha. However, the Rif[8] writes that a complete Havdalah must be said before doing any work. Similarly, the Rambam[9] writes that one may not eat or do any work until they have fulfilled the mitzvah of Havdalah. The Brisker Rav suggests that the heart of this dispute is the nature of the prohibition to do work before Havdalah. Rashi understands that although Shabbos is over, Chazal forbade one to do melacha until one delineates the conclusion of Shabbos, and this can be accomplished by saying the words of המבדיל בין קודש לחול. However, the Rambam and the Rif believe that the obligation to recite Havdalah before anything else is not due to the sanctity of the day, but rather it is that the mitzvah of Havdalah must be performed before eating or doing work.[10] The Shulchan Aruch[11] codifies Rashi’s opinion and writes that melacha may not be done before Havdalah has been said and the mere recitation of ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לחול allows one to do work. It is important to note that if one does in fact say Havdalah on a cup before davening Maariv, ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לחול needs to be said to allow for one to strike a match,[12] so in essence ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לחול will always be said, either as the only Havdalah or as a prelude to a traditional Havdalah.

While it is true that it is possible and acceptable to recite Havdalah prior to davening Maariv, it is certainly preferable to follow the regular order of events and to recite Havdalah while davening Maariv first and then say Havdalah on a cup of wine. If one lives in a place where the only minyan available is much later, then it is best to say ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לחול to do limited melacha and then continue the traditional order of Havdalah in Tefilah followed by a cup of wine. If, however, this is a one-time event then it is best to recite Havdalah on a cup, which is the לכתחילה form of Havdalah followed by Tefilas Maariv.

There may be another reason for one to make Havdalah prior to davening Maariv. The gemara [13] is clear that one may not eat prior to Havdalah, as a way of honoring the Shabbos. Can one who recited Havdalah eat prior to davening Maariv along with אתה חוננתנו? The Mishnah Berurah[14] seems to be strict on this very issue, and this is the assumption the Shemiras Shabbos.[15] However, Shevet Halevi[16] is lenient; after all, if one didn’t mention אתה חוננתנו in his Shemonah Esrei, he may certainly eat.[17] Even if one is strict, would this apply to women in the same way? After all, if they won’t daven Maariv anyway, is there any reason to say that they may not eat after hearing a pre-Maariv Havdalah?[18] Thus, if women can eat after a pre-Maariv Havdalah, but have the custom not to recite Havdalah themselves, they may wish to hear Havdalah from their husbands prior to the Rabbeinu Tam Maariv so that they can eat. This would require a regular Havdalah as ברוך המבדיל does not suffice to allow for one to eat.

[1] Brachos 33a.

[2] See Rashba d.h. Umah.

[3] See Tehilah L’Dovid 293. This seems apparent from the ordering of the Shulchan Aruch, first the laws of Maariv (293, 294) followed by the laws of Havdalah (296-299).

[4] 299:9, see also 293:4.

[5] See Mishna Berurah 294:1, 489:18.

[6] Shabbos 150b.

[7] D.h. hamavdil.

[8] As understood by the Ran Shabbos 64b (Rif).

[9] Shabbos 29:5.

[10] See Aruch Hashulchan 299:21.

[11] 299:10.

[12] Rema 299:10, Mishna Berurah 39.

[13] Pesachim 105a.

[14] 299:35.

[15] 59 footnote 34.

[16] 9:63.

[17] Additionally, being that the first food/drink after Shabbos the wine of Havdalah, that should then allow other eating. See Shiurim L’Zecher Abba Mori 2:123-34.

[18] See Mishnah Berurah 299:37.