Eating Before Havdalah
For the same reason that it is prohibited to eat before Kiddush, it is also prohibited to eat before Havdalah is recited.221 Accordingly, it is prohibited to eat or drink once the sun has set. Bedieved, however, a person who did not begin Seudah Shlishis — a meal in which both men and women222 are obligated to partake — before sunset may start his meal until a half hour before nightfall.223
Unlike before Kiddush, it is permitted to drink water or seltzer [or unsweetened tea224] before Havdalah, even after Seudah Shlishis is over.225 [Still, some people refrain from drinking water between sunset and nightfall on Shabbos — even during Seudah Shlishis — based on the Kabalistic teaching of the Ari z”l that it is “dangerous” to drink water at that time.226]
A person who began his Seudah Shlishis before sunset may continue eating and drinking until he is ready to recite Havdalah. This applies only to a meal that includes bread, not a meal that consists only of fruit or shehakol foods or beverages, or drinking wine. There is a dispute among the poskim regarding whether a meal that includes mezonos foods may be continued after sunset.227
Women, who are also obligated to hear Havdalah, also may not eat before hearing (or reciting) Havdalah. While it is customary that women do not make Havdalah for themselves, a woman who cannot hear Havdalah recited by a man should recite her own Havdalah, as was explained earlier in Chapter 296.
As with Kiddush, children under the age of bar or bas mitzvah may eat and drink before Havdalah when necessary.
Even a person who recited Atah chonantanu during Shemoneh Esrei may not eat or drink until he recites or hears Havdalah recited over wine or grape juice.228
One who presently has no wine or other halachically acceptable beverage over which to recite Havdalah but expects to obtain some later on, should — if he can — put off eating until he obtains the beverage, up to midday Sunday.229 If he is a weak person who cannot wait so long, or if he does not expect to find an acceptable beverage by that time, he does not need to wait and may eat after davening Ma’ariv and reciting Atah chonantanu.230
221. As explained earlier in the notes to Mishnah Berurah 271:4, note b. See also Contemporary Halachah Discussion to Chapter 271.
222. Shulchan Aruch rules definitively that women are obligated to eat Seudah Shlishis (O.C. 291:6), and it is important that they be reminded of this; Aruch ha-Shulchan 291:4. The fact that some women are not careful to perform this mitzvah is very difficult to justify. See Divrei Yisrael 1:84, quoting the Ari z”l.
223. Mishnah Berurah 299:1. The meal should begin as soon as possible after sunset, since some poskim disagree and allow Seudah Shlishis to begin only a few minutes after sunset (see Igros Moshe, O.C. 4:69-6 and Az Nidberu 13:22) and some do not permit starting it after sunset at all (see Dinim v’Hanhagos 10:13; Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 56, note 17). This is especially true in Eretz Yisrael, where bein hashmashos is much shorter than in the United States and Europe.
224. Shulchan Shlomo 299:1 (addendum). See Toras Chayim (Sonnenfeld), pg. 71.
225. O.C. 299:1.
226. Minchas Shabbos 96:11; Kaf ha-Chayim 299:6; Orchos Rabbeinu, vol. 1, pg. 126. See also Aruch ha-Shulchan 299:1, which explains that this custom is based on the medrash quoted by Rema, O.C. 291:2.
227. Aruch ha-Shulchan 299:5 and Ketzos ha-Shulchan (Badei ha-Shulchan) 94:3 are stringent, while Shevet ha-Levi 8:36, Ohr l’Tziyon 2:22-8 and Shraga ha-Meir 2:72 rule leniently. Rav S.Z. Auerbach does not render a clear ruling on this issue; see Shulchan Shlomo 299:6.
228. Sha’ar ha-Tziyun 299:5.
229. Mishnah Berurah 296:21. It is not necessary, however, to put off eating in order to obtain besamim and/or a havdalah candle.
230. Mishnah Berurah 296:17.