Beracha on a Havdala Candle You Cannot See

by R. Daniel Mann

Question: I will be in a hospital for Shabbat. They do Havdala in the ward. It is unclear if I will be able to make it close to where it is held, but I was told that the mavdil is very loud and I will hear it in my room. If this happens, what will I do about Borei Me’orei Ha’eish on a candle I do not see? (Safety concerns prevent any flames in hospital rooms.)

Answer: First, remember that your health is paramount and that there is no problem whatsoever doing Havdala without a candle (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 298:1). If one is able to make the beracha on the candle later that night, that is great (Mishna Berura 298:3).

The mishna (Berachot 51b) states that one can make a beracha on the Havdala candle only when “they benefit from its light.” The gemara (ibid. 53b) cites a machloket on what this means: Rav says it just requires the light to be significant enough that if one were close, he could benefit. Rava requires actual benefit, with the example being that he is able to use it to distinguish between coins. Most Rishonim and the Shulchan Aruch (ibid. 4) rule that one needs to be close enough to benefit from the light.

On the other hand, according to most authorities, there is no mitzva to actually benefit from the light (see Halacha Berura 298:13). Actually, almost all agree that the beracha is a birkat hashevach (praising Hashem), in this case for creating fire/light, which Adam became aware of on Motzaei Shabbat (see Pesachim 54a). If so, the requirement of how to see the light is to ensure a sufficient trigger for the beracha, as one must see a rainbow or lightening before making a beracha on it.

Therefore, there is logic to say (as Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchata 61:(62) points out) that if the person who is reciting the beracha is properly triggered, those who hear his beracha are appropriately praising Hashem (e.g., by you answering amen from your room). Nevertheless, the Mishna Berura (297:13; 298:13) says that whoever wants to fulfill the halacha of the Havdala candle must be close enough to the light, and I did not find those who disagree. This goes well with the halacha (Shulchan Aruch ibid. 13) that a blind person does not make Borei Me’orei Ha’eish; we do find that he should hear the beracha from someone with sight.

One can suggest various explanations for everyone’s need to be close enough. 1) The mitzva is not limited to the beracha but includes experiencing the light and being reminded of Hashem’s creation, which is capped off with the beracha. This may explain why we make the effort to hold out our hands and look at our fingernails (ibid. 3) and that some do this after the beracha (against the simple halachic logic). 2) One should connect to the beracha as one who is obligated in it, which happens only when he is personally triggered (see Chief Rabbi Yosef’s Birur Halacha 298:(19)).

That being said, even if you cannot make it close to the light, you can salvage the situation significantly. First, if you can light an incandescent lightbulb, some poskim allow using this for Havdala in a case of need (see Piskei Teshuvot 298:10). If so, it would be ideal if you answer amen to the beracha of the mavdil and “attach” the beracha to your incandescent light.

Finally, realize that despite the standard p’sak that one cannot fulfill the mitzva at a distance, hearing the beracha does have some value. First, some poskim say it might be possible you do fulfill the mitzva at a distance, and therefore if you did hear the beracha in this way, you cannot make a beracha later if you gain access (Kaf Hachayim 298:22). The Mishna Berura (297:13) likely agrees, because he says that when one is listening at a distance, he should have in mind not to be yotzei, and make the beracha later when he gains access. Additionally, according to the reasons we gave before, by listening intently to the beracha (you should not answer, as it is likely a hefsek in Havdala), one takes part in the praise of Hashem, just that it is missing either the seeing of the light or taking part in the beracha with an obligation to do so.

לעילוי נשמת יואל אפרים בן אברהם עוזיאל זלצמן ז”ל