#181: The Havdalah Candle (Part 1)
- After smelling the Besamim, the next step of the Havdalah ceremony is reciting the berachah of “Borei Me’orei Ha'eish” on fire. Although we do not normally recite a berachah upon seeing fire, on Motzai Shabbat, Adam first discovered how to make fire. Therefore, it is an appropriate time to express our gratitude to Hashem for fire and commemorate the event in this manner. Some say we recite this berachah also because fire is not allowed to be created on Shabbat (Pesachim 53b; Responsa of the Rashba 1:159).
- Ideally, one should use a torch (“medurah”) for the fire, since it provides more light. In this context, a “torch” includes any flame that contains at least two wicks together. However, the strict halacha allows fulfilling the mitzvah with even just one wick. (Mishnah Berurah 298:7, based on Pesachim 103b).
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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.
