Besamim for Havdalah on Motzei Chol Hamoed Pesach

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Besamim for Havdalah on Motzei Chol Hamoed Pesach:[1]

Havdalah on Motzei Shabbos Chol Hamoed Pesach follows the same laws as Havdalah throughout the year, and hence the Mitzvah of Besamim applies on Motzei Shabbos Chol Hamoed Pesach just as it applies throughout the year. Nevertheless, due to the Chametz restrictions, some are accustomed to avoid using the commonly used Besamim of cinnamon and cloves due to its possible Chametz infiltration.[2] Accordingly, some did not have a Besamim spice available on Motzei Shabbos of Chol Hamoed Pesach and therefore did not do Besamim during Havdalah of this Motzei Shabbos.[3] However, in truth even if one does not have the above spices available due to the Chametz restrictions, one can use other spices, such as Hadassim, or fresh herbs that contain a scent, including mint. If this is not available, one can use a lemon or orange for Besamim, and recite the blessing of Minei Besamim upon smelling the peel of the fruit.[4] In the event that no spice is available, then one is not obligated to search for a spice and is to skip the section of Besamim in Havdalah.[5]

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[1] See Nitei Gavriel 11:17-18; Piskeiy Teshuvos 467:10

[2] Nitei Gavriel 11:17; Piskeiy Teshuvos 467:10; Regarding cloves see Admur 467:21; M”A 467:10; M”B 467:33; Kitzur SHU”A 117:4; Regarding cinnamon see : See Sdei Chemed ibid; Orchos Chaim 467 in name of Meorei Or; Sefer Haminhagim p. 76

Is there truly a prohibition to smell spices that may contain a mixture of Chametz? See Beis Meir 467; Maharm Shick O.C. 242; Halef Lecha Shlomo 204; Divrei Chaim Y.D. 20; Orchos Chaim [Spinka] 467:21; Kaneh Bosem 1:25

[3] Nitei Gavriel 11:17 footnote 21

[4] Admur 297:3; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 216 footnote 28 and 297 footnote 38 which tries to learn in Admur in the Seder 11:9 that all fruits which are meant only for eating one is not to say a Bracha over smelling them. However, it is very difficult to enter such an interpretation into Admur in Seder 11:3.

[5] Admur 297:1

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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