Shabbat Conclusion and Melave Malka

Richard B. Aiken

Eating/Drinking before Havdala

You should not eat or drink from sunset (or from the time you finish se'uda shlishit) until after havdala, but drinking water during that time period is not forbidden by halacha.

Birkat HaMazon Additions for Shabbat and Rosh Chodesh Saturday Night

SITUATION: Rosh Chodesh begins on Saturday night. You started se'uda shlishit and continued to eat--including eating at least 1.3 fl. oz. (39 ml, or 1/6 cup) of bread after dark. It is time for birkat ha'mazon.

WHAT TO DO: Say birkat ha'mazon additions for Shabbat (shir ha'ma'alot, retzei, migdol yeshuot) AND any others for the next day (such as ya'aleh v'yavo for Rosh Chodesh).

NOTE: If you did not eat at least 1.3 fl. oz. (39 ml, or 1/6 cup) of bread after dark, only say the birkat ha'mazon additions for Shabbat.

Forgetting Ata Chonantanu

If you forgot to say ata chonantanu after Shabbat (or Jewish festivals), you do not need to repeat the amida. But, if you then ate food before saying havdala, you must repeat the amida including ata chonantanu.

WHEN SHABBAT ENDS/MOTZA'EI SHABBAT

Shabbat Ends at Dark

You may not end Shabbat before dark (appearance of three medium-size stars--tzeit ha'kochavim).

When Is Dark

Shabbat (and Jewish festivals) ends at “dark”: when three medium-sized stars are visible overhead.

NOTE: To find medium-sized stars, look for stars to appear in the west—those will be large stars. When large stars appear in the west, medium-sized stars should be visible overhead.

If you are in a place where the sun sets but the sky will not get dark any time that evening, ask a rabbi what to do.

How Long between Sunset and Dark

Some communities end Shabbat 42 minutes after sunset, which is when some rabbis in New York observed that it gets dark. At other latitudes, the interval may vary considerably, from shorter toward the equator or much longer toward the poles.

NOTE: In New York, dark is at 45 minutes after sunset in the winter and 50 minutes in the summer, according to Rav Moshe Feinstein. Some people wait 72 minutes after sunset before doing any melacha.

SAYING BARUCH HAMAVDIL

Baruch HaMavdil Bein Kodesh L'Chol To Do Melacha

After it is dark, say Baruch ha'mavdil bein kodesh l'chol (just those words--not God's name or any of the standard words used in blessings!) if you want to end Shabbat and do weekday activities (melachot) before saying ma'ariv's amida or havdala.

REASON: This fulfills the commandment of “zachor” for Shabbat and allows you to do melacha.

NOTE: But it does not allow you to eat or drink, once you have finished se'uda shlishit, until you hear or say havdala.

Baruch HaMavdil and Birkat HaMazon at Third Meal

SITUATION: You washed your hands, said ha'motzi, were eating your meal (this could be se'uda shlishit or even a fourth meal) and it is now dark. You want to do melacha.

WHAT TO DO: If you have not yet finished se'uda shlishit, saying Baruch ha'mavdil bein kodesh l'chol after dark on Saturday night does not affect the Shabbat additions you will then say in birkat ha'mazon. So, you may say Baruch ha'mavdil bein kodesh l'chol and do melacha, and then continue to eat your meal or say birkat ha'mazon INCLUDING the two Shabbat additions of retzei and ha'rachaman hu yanchileinu yom she'kulo Shabbat u'menucha l'chayei ha'olamim.

Eating Melave Malka a Halacha

Eating something for the melava malka on Saturday night is a halacha, not a custom.

Melave Malka Shir HaMa'alot until Midnight

Say shir ha'ma'alot until midnight (halachic chatzot) if you eat a meal with bread after Shabbat is over, but only if the meal is eaten as a melave malka.

Shabbat Conclusion and Melave Malka

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