Women
Can a Woman Make Havdalah When She Is Alone?
Question
Hello respected Rabbi, if a woman is alone and there is no one to perform Havdalah for her, is she obligated to make Havdalah on Motzaei Shabbat? And if so, does she make Havdalah without wine?
Answer
Hello, In such a case, she is required to make Havdalah for herself (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 296:8; Rema and Mishnah Berurah there). The order of Havdalah is as usual, with the blessing on the wine, the blessing on the spices, the blessing on the flame, and the Havdalah blessing (see Chazon Ovadia, Shabbat, Part 2, pages 137-150, and Piskei Teshuvot 296:20). She should drink from the cup a minimum volume of a cheekful (a standard measure; see Mishnah Berurah there, paragraph 35, and Chazon Ovadia ibid, page 495), and it is preferable to be careful to drink at least a "revi'it" (about 81 ml), because if she drinks the cheekful volume, there is some doubt whether she can say the after-blessing (see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 182:1, Mishnah Berurah paragraph 12, and 296 paragraph 26). Blessings, Hillel Meirs
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