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DAAT · LEVEL 1 — INTRODUCTION

Siman רצ"ה · 1 Seif

Havdalah by the chazzan in shul — to discover and understand
סימן רצ"ה
הַבְדָּלָה שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה שְׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר
🌱 Beginners Level · מתחילים
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First approach to Siman רצ"ה: full Hebrew text of the Mechaber, fluent English translation, pedagogical explanations of the halachic concepts, modern practical cases and summary.

Topic: Havdalah by the chazzan in shul
Source: שולחן ערוך אורח חיים סימן רצ"ה (1 seif)

Compilation: רב יוסף חיים סממה
DAAT · daattorah.com

📑 Study outline

1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch — the Mechaber's seif
2. General context
3. Key halachic concepts
4. Detailed seif
5. Mishnah Berurah
6. The Rama's position
7. Modern practical cases
8. Practical summary
9. Comprehension questions

1. The text of the Shulchan Aruch

Siman רצ"ה contains 1 seif of the Mechaber codifying the laws relating to havdalah by the chazzan in shul.

Seif א — The chazzan makes havdalah for others

הבדלה שעושה ש"ץ. ובו סעיף אחד:
הגה ואומרים ויהי נועם וסדר קדושה באריכות כדי לאחר סדר קדושה שאז חוזרים רשעים לגיהנם (טור) ובזמן שאין אומרים ויהי נועם כגון שחל יום טוב בשבוע אין אומרים סדר קדושה אבל אומרים ויתן לך (כל בו) :
מבדיל שליח צבור כדי להוציא מי שאין לו יין: הגה ונהגו לומר ולהזכיר אליהו הנביא במ"ש להתפלל שיבא ויבשרנו הגאולה (טור):
Translation: "Rama: One says Vihi noam (Tehillim 90:17 + 91) and Seder Kedushah (U-va le-Tziyon goel) with prolongation, in order to delay Seder Kedushah — for then the wicked return to gehinnom (Tur). And when Vihi noam is not said (for example if a Yom Tov falls during the week), one does not say Seder Kedushah but one says "V'yitein lecha" (Kol Bo).
Central text of the Mechaber: The chazzan makes havdalah [in shul] in order to be motzi one who has no wine. Rama: And we have the practice to mention Eliyahu HaNavi on motzaei Shabbat — to pray that he comes and announces the redemption (Tur)."
3 key elements of the seif:
  1. Vihi noam + Seder Kedushah (Rama) — prolonged recitation to delay the return of souls to gehinnom.
  2. Havdalah in shul by the chazzan (Mechaber) — to release those without wine.
  3. Mention of Eliyahu HaNavi (Rama) — traditional songs calling for the redemption.
"Vihi noam" (Tehillim 90:17): "And let the pleasantness of Hashem our God be upon us, and the work of our hands establish upon us, the work of our hands establish it". According to the Zohar and Kabbalah, its recitation on motzaei Shabbat delays the return of souls to gehinnom and places us under divine protection for the week. Exception: when Yom Tov falls during the following week — one does not say it ("noam" is linked to the pure 7-day sequence of weekday time, disturbed by Yom Tov).
Full text: this single seif constitutes the entire codification of the Mechaber on this topic.

2. General context

What does this siman discuss?

Our short siman (1 seif) codifies two related things: (1) havdalah made by the chazzan in shul after Maariv of motzaei Shabbat; and (2) the additional liturgy surrounding this havdalah (Vihi noam, Seder Kedushah, Eliyahu HaNavi, V'yitein lecha).

Why does the chazzan make havdalah in shul? Before printing and access to wine, many congregants did not have the means to make havdalah at home. The chazzan then publicly makes havdalah to be motzi them. With universal access to wine, the minhag remained — but with a question: today, must we continue?

Place in Hilchos Shabbos

3. Key halachic concepts

1. ויהי נועם (Vihi noam): Tehillim 90:17 + Tehillim 91. Recited with melody at the start of Maariv of motzaei Shabbat. Kabbalistic source: delay the return of souls to gehinnom.
2. סדר קדושה (Seder Kedushah): sequence "Atah Kadosh" + "U-Va le-Tziyon" with its kedushah verses. Recited after Vihi noam on motzaei Shabbat.
3. חוזרים רשעים לגיהנם: midrashic source: the souls of the wicked rest in gehinnom during Shabbat; at motzaei Shabbat, they return there. Prolonged recitation keeps them at rest a little longer.
4. מבדיל ש"ץ (Mavdil Shaliach Tzibbur): the chazzan makes public havdalah after Maariv Amidah, to be motzi those who have no wine at home.
5. אליהו הנביא: traditional songs mentioning Eliyahu HaNavi — who will announce the redemption. Recited on motzaei Shabbat ("Eliyahu HaNavi, Eliyahu HaTishbi...").
6. ויתן לך (V'yitein lecha): compilation of biblical verses on blessing (Bereishis 27:28, etc.), recited when Vihi noam is not said (Yom Tov week).

4. Overview of the seif

ElementSourceHalachah
Vihi noam + Seder KedushahRama (Tur, Zohar)With prolonged melody — delay return of wicked to gehinnom
If Yom Tov in the weekRama (Kol Bo)Do not say Vihi noam or Seder Kedushah; say V'yitein lecha
Havdalah by the chazzanMechaber (central text)To be motzi those without wine
Mention of Eliyahu HaNaviRama (Tur)To call for the messianic redemption

5. Mishnah Berurah — first entries

The Mishnah Berurah has 7 entries on this siman. Here are the first ones:

משנה ברורה (א) — (א) ואומרים ויהי נועם - ונוהגין לכפול פסוק ארך ימים [טור ע"ש הטעם] ופסוק ויהי נועם צריך לאומרו מעומד. ויש מקומות שא"א ויהי נועם בבית האבל רק מתחילין יושב בסתר וגו':
משנה ברורה (ב) — (ב) וסדר קדושה - היינו שמתחילין מואתה קדוש ואין אומרים ובא לציון גואל לפי שאין גאולה בלילה ולכן גם ואני זאת בריתי אין אומרים לפי שסמוכים הם להדדי בספר ישעיה [ט"ז] ומ"ש שאומרים באריכות היינו בנעימות קול כדי שיתארך מעט יותר ולעכב לרשעים מלחזור לגיהנם דעד שישלימו ישראל סדריהם נמשכת קדושת שבת ואח"כ חוזרים לגיהנם וכמו שאחז"ל דבמו"ש צועק הממונה על הרוחות חזרו לגיהנם שכבר השלימו ישראל את סדריהם [טור]:
משנה ברורה (ג) — (ג) כגון שחל יו"ט וכו' - היינו אפילו חל ביום וי"ו דבעינן שכל השבוע יהיה ראוי למלאכה משום דכתיב בו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו וגו'. ודוקא יו"ט גמור אבל פורים או ע"פ שחל בימי החול אין למנוע מלומר ויהי נועם במו"ש שלפניו:

For the full text of the 7 entries, see Sefaria: Mishnah Berurah 295.

6. The Rama's position

Wherever the Rama adds a הגהה (gloss), he generally clarifies the Ashkenazi nuances compared to the Sephardi Mechaber.

This siman = almost entirely Rama: the Mechaber gives only the central text (havdalah by the chazzan). All the rest — Vihi noam, prolonged Seder Kedushah, V'yitein lecha, Eliyahu HaNavi — are Ashkenazi minhagim codified by the Rama. The Sefardim have parallel minhagim but with different texts and nuances.

7. Modern practical cases

SituationPractical halachah
Havdalah by the chazzan in shul todayMinhag preserved in almost all kehillos. Is motzi those who forgot or have no wine.
Someone wants to be yotzei through the chazzan's havdalahMust have kavanah, hear the entire havdalah, and not have eaten/drunk before. Later, may also redo at home without berachos (just as zecher).
Vihi noam on Pesach/Sukkos in the weekIf Yom Tov falls in the following week → do not say Vihi noam. Say V'yitein lecha instead.
Purim falling during the weekSay Vihi noam (MB ג: Purim = not Yom Tov gamur).
Singing Eliyahu HaNaviStrong minhag in all communities. Varied traditional songs ("Hamavdil bein kodesh le-chol...", etc.).
Prayer hall without formal chazzanNo public havdalah; each one does it at home.
V'yitein lecha read quicklyBedieved OK. Minhag: at home at the table, after Maariv or havdalah, with family.
Practical rule: the kehilla's minhag dominates. The formal havdalah is done at home on the wine; the chazzan's is a safety net for those who could not do it.

8. Practical summary of the Siman

The 4 key lessons of Siman רצ"ה:
  1. Prolonged Vihi noam + Seder Kedushah on motzaei Shabbat — to delay the return of the wicked to gehinnom (Kabbalah).
  2. Yom Tov in the week: do not say Vihi noam; say V'yitein lecha.
  3. The chazzan makes havdalah to be motzi those without wine.
  4. Mention Eliyahu HaNavi — traditional songs calling for the redemption.

9. Comprehension questions

Check your understanding:
  1. Why does the chazzan make havdalah in shul? What was the historical need?
  2. What does Vihi noam mean and why does one prolong it?
  3. When does one not say Vihi noam? What does one say instead?
  4. What does "the wicked return to gehinnom" mean in the context of motzaei Shabbat?
  5. Why does one mention Eliyahu HaNavi on motzaei Shabbat?
  6. What is the Mechaber's share in this siman and what is the Rama's?

To go further

If you want to go deeper into this siman:
Continue the study — next simanSiman 296 →
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סימן רצ"ה · Level 1 — Introduction
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