Halachot and Customs
Is There a Source for Laughing During Havdalah?
Question
Hello, honored rabbi. When reciting the blessing over the wine at Havdalah, one looks at the wine and sees the reflection of one’s face in it.
A. Why are we supposed to laugh?
B. It is said that someone who does not see his face may die that same week. From where do we learn about this seeing, and where is it written?
Thank you very much.
Answer
Hello.
A. There are some among Sephardim who have the custom to laugh during Havdalah because it is a good sign. The reason they customarily laugh while looking at the fingernails is that looking at the fingernails is able to restrain laughter, and thus it helps ensure that this laughter is not more than skin-deep (R. Chaim Palaggi, zt"l, in the book Nefesh Chaim, system of the letter tzadi, entry 23; cited in the book Pekudat Elazar, part 2, chapter 8, section 3, beginning with the words veharav).
B. To the best of my knowledge, there is no source for this.
With blessings,
Hillel Meirs
