Havdala on Tisha Bav

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For medical reasons, I’ll need to break my fast on the morning of Tisha Bav. Can you walk me through havdalah?

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Asked on July 12, 2021 2:17 am
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We’ll first lay out standard procedure for someone who is fasting, drawing on Shuchan Aruch (OC 556) and Mishna Berura (ad loc.), and then look at how that is modified when someone needs to break the fast:

Standard Procedure On Motzaei Shabbat one recites “ata chonantanu” in Shemoneh Esrei of Ma’ariv. (Women who don’t recite Ma’ariv should be sure to say the phrase “baruch ha-mavdil bein kodesh le-chol” before performing labor). We also recite the blessing over the flame, which is specific to Motza’ei Shabbat. (Read more here).
Though the beracha over the spices is also specific to Motza’ei Shabbat, it is entirely omitted because it brings comfort inappropriate to Tish’a Be-Av.
On Sunday night after the fast, havdala is recited over a beverage. Mishna Berura permits wine, though others, including Aruch Ha-Shulchan, recommend a different beverage. The disagreement depends on how one sees the night following Tish'a Be-Av within the context of the nine days (Dagul Mi-rvava there).
The berachot over the spices and over the flame are omitted.

Havdala when Breaking the Fast If one needs to break the fast immediately on Motza’ei Shabbat, then one recites the usual havdala, just omitting the opening verses and the beracha over spices.
If one needs to break the fast only later at night or during the day, then (as above) the beracha over the flame is recited separately earlier, and the beracha over the beverage and the beracha of ha-mavdil come just before eating (Shemirat Shabbat Ke-hilchetah 62:46).

We learned here that there is generally a preference for a woman to hear havdala from a man, when one is readily available. Some halachic authorities (Shemirat Shabbat Ke-hilchetah 62:48) express a preference for a woman to hear havdala when breaking a fast on Tish’a Be’Av from a man as well. In such a case, if the man reciting havdala is fasting, then the woman is the one to drink the beverage. However, the prevailing custom is for a woman who needs to break her fast to recite havdala for herself (Halichot Beitah 25:6).

We wish you a healthy and meaningful Tish’a Be-Av!

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Answered on July 12, 2021 2:22 am