Question:
Regarding havdala for someone in the hospital over shabbos and discharged on Monday. There is grape juice, but no besamim or candle. I seem to recall that the last two are not mi-akaiv. If so, is it better for the visitor to make havdalah on motzei shabbos just on grape juice, or wait until Monday night when he will have the besamim and aish?
Answer:
Hello,
Havdalah should be made on Motzei Shabbos, which is the proper time to make it. If you don't have a candle or besamim, as you write you can still make havdalah. Waiting for Monday is not going to help as we don't make a bracha on besamim or the candle when it isn't on Motzei Shabbos.
Best wishes
So, does one just go through the motion of reciting the correct text with the Havdalah candle on display but obviously not lit? Also does one hold up one’s hands in the same manner as when doing so for the shadows and illumination as when lit? When it comes to ‘extinguishing’ the flame, is this missed out? Or would one dip the unlit candle into the ‘wine?’
There is no need to do that, just skip those two brachos as you don't have them. There is also not point in dipping a candle that wasn't used into the wine, as it isn't extinguishing the flame.
Thank you for replying and your answer.
You're welcome.
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