How much wine must one drink in order to fulfill the mitzvah of Havdalah?
Question
Hello,
My husband recites Havdalah in haste, and when he reaches the point of drinking the wine, he dips his finger into the cup instead of drinking.
I told him several times that perhaps one must fulfill the obligation by drinking more than a drop on a finger.
But for his reasons, afterward I take the cup, drink a little, and ask that we be made to fulfill the obligation for everyone.
Is that acceptable, or is the drop he takes with his finger sufficient?
Answer
Shalom,
In order to fulfill the obligation of Havdalah, one must drink a cheekful of wine (Mishnah Berurah, siman 296, seif katan 19). That is, the amount of wine that fills the cavity of the mouth when one inflates one cheek (see Shulchan Aruch, siman 271, seif 13, and Mishnah Berurah seif katan 66), and there is no need for a majority of the cup (there, seif katan 67). Therefore, one certainly does not fulfill the obligation by drinking a single drop.
If, despite this, your husband is not willing to drink a cheekful, another man who is also fulfilling his obligation through this Havdalah should be asked to drink this amount in his place, and then all of you will fulfill the obligation (Shulchan Aruch there, seif 14, and Mishnah Berurah there).
And if there is no other man, you should drink the required amount yourself. And although women usually do not customarily drink from the cup of Havdalah (Mishnah Berurah, siman 296, seif katan 6), in such a case you may and must drink so that all of you will fulfill the obligation.
See also https://www.hidabroot.org/question/260485
With blessings,
Hillel Meirs
