Why do we look at the fingernails during Havdalah?

Greetings,

A. A person’s soul is pained by the departure of Shabbat, and therefore we bless over the spices in order to restore the soul (Mishnah Berurah, siman 297, seif katan 2).

B. Indeed, it is customary to look at the palms of the hands and the fingernails when reciting the blessing over the fire in Havdalah (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, siman 269, seif 3), and there are two reasons for this:

1. Because there must be enough light from the Havdalah candle - so that one can distinguish between a coin of one country and a coin of another country (as explained in the Shulchan Aruch there, seif 4). For this reason, people are accustomed to look at the fingernails, to see whether they can benefit from its light and distinguish between coin and coin, just as one distinguishes between nail and flesh (Mishnah Berurah there, seif katan 9).

2. Because the fingernails are a sign of blessing, since they grow continually forever (Mishnah Berurah there).

With blessing,

Hillel Meirs