From the Rav’s Desk: May one still say Havdalah on Tuesday night?

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Question: [Wednesday, 14th Marcheshvan, 5782]

I forgot to say or hear Havdalah on Saturday night and just remembered to do so now on Tuesday night? May I still say it?

Answer:

No. It may only be said up until the start of Tuesday evening, until sunset of Tuesday, and not any further.

 

Explanation: The main Mitzvah of Havdalah is to say it at night on Motzei Shabbos. If one did not do so, then according to the Ashkenazi ruling, he may say Havdalah up until Tuesday, including Tuesday, as the first three days of the week are considered the days after Shabbos, and are included in Motzei Shabbos. However, starting from Wednesday, he may no longer say Havdalah, as the last three days are considered the days before the coming Shabbos and have no connection to the previous Shabbos. Now, according to the Jewish calendar the start of Wednesday begins from nightfall on Tuesday, and one is to be stringent starting from sunset. Hence, Havdalah may only be recited up until Tuesday night and from the start of Tuesday night, starting from sunset of Tuesday, it may no longer be said.

Sources: See Admur 299:8 “he is to do so on Tuesday up until the end of the day, however, from that time and onwards he can no longer say it.”; Michaber and Rama 299:6; Pesachim 106a; Ben Ish Chaiy Vayeitzei 23; Kaf Hachaim 299:26; Makor Chaim of Chavos Yair 299, brought in Piskeiy Teshuvos 299:10, that may not say past sunset of Tuesday

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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