I nailed it! TB Berachot 53

Today’s daf TB Berachot 53 is dedicated to my granddaughter Summer, one of the lights of my life, who is celebrating her first birthday today. We also finish the eighth chapter of massechet Berachot.

Rabbi Yehudah and Rava disagree what is the meaning of the benefiting from the light of the Havdalah candle. “We learned in the mishna: And one does not recite the blessing over the candle until he derives benefit from its light.” (Sefaria.com translation)

“Rav Yehuda said that Rav said: Benefit does not mean that the one reciting the blessing must have actually benefited from the light of the candle. Rather, as long as one could stand close to the candle and utilize its light, anyone who sees it may recite a blessing over it, even if he is standing at a distance. And with regard to the question whether or not one must actually benefit from the flame’s light in order to recite a blessing, Rava said: When the mishna said benefit, it meant that he must actually derive benefit from the light.” (Sefaria.com translation)

Rabbi Yehudah believes we can say the blessing over a light as long as we can derive potential benefit from it and Rava holds the position that we need to have actual benefit from the light. The Shulchan Aruch O.H. 298:4 decides in favor of Rava’s position: “(Even though one can see the light), he should not recite a blessing over it unless he is close enough to it so that he can derive benefit from it to the degree that he could use its light to differentiate between coins of one country and coins of another country.”  {Being able to differentiate between coins of two different places comes directly from our daf TB Berachot 53b. GG} (Sefaria.com translation)

Interestingly enough, The Shulchan Aruch O.H. 298:3 talks about the custom of holding up your fingers to the light of the Havdalah candle. “It is our custom to look at the palm of one's hands and one's nails. RAMA: There are those who look at the nails of the right hand and grasp the cup in the left hand. One should bend the fingers into the hand so as to see the nails with the palms at the same time. And one will not see the inside of his fingers (Zohar, Bresheet and Va'Yakhel).” (Sefaria.com translation)

I looked online for the reason of looking at one’s nails and found this explanation by Yehudah Shurpin:

“The basic reason for this custom is that one should not recite a blessing over the fire unless he is close enough to its light to benefit from it and differentiate between the coins of one country and the coins of another.¹ Therefore, people examine their nails in the candlelight, since it takes a similar amount of light to differentiate between the nails and the skin² (remember, before havdalah one shouldn’t have any coins on him).

“In addition to the fingernails, it is also customary to look at the palms, because there is a sign that leads to blessing in the creases on one’s palms.8 Therefore, the custom is to clench the four fingers over the thumb so that the nails and palm can be viewed at once.9

“There are different customs as to whether one should gaze at his fingernails before or after the blessing is said.

“The debate is dependent upon the reason for the blessing. If it is primarily a blessing of praise (birkat hashevach) for the natural phenomenon of fire, then the blessing should follow the experience, just like the blessings after lightening and thunder.

“If, however, the reason for the blessing is similar to a blessing of benefit (birkat hanehenin) like the blessing over food, then we should first make the blessing and then enjoy the fire. The more common practice (and the standard Chabad custom) is to gaze at the fingernails only after the blessing of the fire is made.¹²"

FOOTNOTES

1.Talmud, Berachot 51b and 53b.

2.See Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer, ch. 20; Siddur Rav Amram Gaon; Rosh, Talmud, Berachot 8:3;Tur, Orach Chaim 298; Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Orach Chaim 298:6.

8.Rav Hai Gaon, quoted in Tur, Orach Chaim 298

9. This follows the teaching of the Zohar that you look only at the outer side of the fingers where the nails are, but not the inner side of the fingers. See Zohar 1:20b; Rema, Orach Chaim 298:3. Additionally, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi writes in his Siddur that one’s fingers should cover his thumb. See Piskei Siddur Admur HaZaken.

12.See Siddur HaTanya; Siddur Yaavetz; Siddur HaGra; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 96:9; Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim 5:9:9. See, however, Mishnah Berurah 296:31, who holds that one should make the blessing only after gazing at his fingernails. Some point out that even if the blessing is birkat hashevach for the creation of fire, it would be enough to simply see the fire before the blessing, whereas using the fire to distinguish nails from flesh, thus “using the flame" is best done afterwards since that way you would also be to satisfying the opinions that hold it's brikat hanenenin. In other words, by doing it afterward you can, according to many, satisfy both opinions. Conversely looking at your nails before the blessing does not satisfy those who hold it's birkat hanehenin.

 (https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/484254/jewish/Why-Look-at-Our-Fingernails-at-Havdalah.htm)

Personally, I don’t look at my fingernails when I say the blessing over the Havdalah candle because I don’t consider that a real benefit. When I say the blessing over the candle, I generally choose to look at the bencher, Grace after meals booklet where the prayer for Havdalah is found, at this time to make sure I’m reciting it correctly. I believe that I am following Rava’s position more accurately because I’m actually driving benefit from the light.