Women
Can a Woman Who Recites Havdalah Drink from the Wine?
Question
If women recite Havdalah when no man is present at the time of Havdalah, may they recite the blessing over the wine and even drink from it after the blessing?
Thank you very much.
Answer
Shalom u-vrachah,
Although women customarily do not drink from the Havdalah cup (Mishnah Berurah, siman 296, seif katan 6), this applies only when the woman has the option of hearing Havdalah from a man. However, when she has no such option, she may and should recite the blessing over the wine and also drink from it (ibid., seif katan 35).
With blessing,
Hillel Meirs
