#155: The Obligation of Women in Havdalah ( Part 5)
- Both Sephardic and Ashkenazi women who recite Havdalah for themselves (for Ashkenazim, in cases where men are unavailable to recite it for her) may also fulfill the mitzvah for other women. Ashkenazi women cannot fulfill the mitzvah for Ashkenazi men (Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchatah 58:18).
- If one’s husband is ill and cannot recite Havdalah himself, his wife or another female may recite Havdalah for him, even according to Ashkenazi practice. In this case, one may rely on the majority opinion that women are indeed obligated in Havdalah like men and can fulfill the obligation for a man. However, it is preferable if he can first say the words “Baruch hamavdil bein kodesh lachol,” as this at least fulfills the Torah obligation of Havdalah (R. Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, cited in Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchatah, ch.58, n.77).
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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.
