Question:
Why is it that when people dip their fingers into the wine after havdalah, they use their pinkies? Why not their pointer?
Thank You
Answer:
While this seems to be the common custom, in fact some have the custom to use other fingers, see Siddur Beis Aharon pg. 3 who writes to use the ring finger. I have not seen an explanation for the pinky finger. This custom is meant as a healing method for what the Talmud tells us that one loses some of their eyesight due to walking in a haughty fashion. Perhaps we use the smallest finger to remind us of the trait of humility which we are trying to return to with this wine.
Sources:
See Berachos 43b, Prisha O:C 269:3, Pri Megadim, Eishel Avraham O:C 301:1
