Ask The Rabbi
25 May 1996
Issue #106
===========================================================================
This Issue Contains:
1  Extinguish and Distinguish
2. Another Workout
3. Yiddle Riddle
===========================================================================
All Ohr Somayach Publications are now available in Adobe Acrobat and
     Microsoft Word formats from our web site: www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr
===========================================================================

Brian Connack from Jerusalem wrote:

>I would like to ask the rabbi a question.  I have noticed that when people
>put out their havdalah candles after Shabbat, rather that blowing the
>candle out they put it out in the spilled wine.  I was also at a birthday
>party recently and the hostess insisted that the birthday boy not blow out
>the candles, rather she put them out by hand.  I would like to know if
>there is any basis to this custom and if there is, what is the difference
>between blowing out a candle and extinguishing it by hand.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Dear Brian,

There are actually three customs here:
1.  Extinguishing the havdalah candle after havdalah
2.  Extinguishing it in wine
3.  Not blowing out candles in general

Before light bulbs were invented, they used candles!  Extinguishing the
havdalah candle immediately after havdalah demonstrated that it was lit
solely for a mitzvah, and not as a regular source of light.

"Wine spilling like water," says the Talmud, "is a sign of blessing."  In
order to start the week off right, we fill the cup of havdalah so that a
little spills out.  And not only do we spill wine, but we spill it `like
water.'  That is, we use it lavishly -- to put out a flame; something you
would never think of doing with wine.

As for not blowing out candles in general, the following reason has been
said in the name of Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky (the `Steipler'),
zatzal:

There's an angel whose name is the same as the sound produced when you blow
out with force.  According to Kabbalistic tradition, it's improper to make
use of the names of holy angels.  Many people, therefore, extinguish
candles by hand in order not to pronounce the name of this angel.

Another explanation:  The Torah depicts man's soul as being a `breath' from
Hashem.  The soul is also compared to a flame.  Using your breath to blow
out a candle is an ironic gesture, using one `soul' to extinguish another.

I know a rabbi who puts out candles by saying the word `Purim,' forcefully
emphasizing the letter `P'.  And a friend of mine saw his Kung Fu
instructor put out a candle by punching it!

Sources:
o  Rama, Orach Chaim 296:1
o  Shulchan Aruch HaRav 296:5
o  Kaf Hachaim, Yoreh De'ah chapter 116 halacha 115
o  Responsa Rivevot Ephraim IV 45:35, that one shouldn't blow out a flame

===========================================================================

Follow-up:

In Ask The Rabbi #102, we answered Yoel's question about whether he is
obligated to exercise upon the insistance of his parents.

Gili Houpt, Yeshiva University <houpt@yu1.yu.edu> wrote:

>...I just wanted to say that it's very refreshing to hear a rabbi giving
>such advice.  I'm a Yeshiva U. student who's been involved with kiruv
>(Jewish education).  Sometimes I see ba'alei t'shuva who feel they must
>reject everything that won't directly enhance their quest for spiritual
>perfection.  Also -- you might suggest to Yoel that he try learning Torah
>while on the treadmill.  I've found this a very useful way to `kill two
>birds with one stone.'

Regarding our "flabby" comments, Yonasan R. of Jerusalem commented:

>"Weren't you a bit too tough on that poor guy?"

Thanks, Gili and Yonasan and everyone else who commented.

===========================================================================

Yiddle Riddle:

Reuven Davis <davisr@cs.man.ac.uk> sent in the following riddle, which he
heard from Avigdor Frankenhauser

Which verse do we say every day in the prayers, that starts and ends with
the same three words in the same order!"
(Answer next week)
===========================================================================
Do you link to us?  Let everyone know about the Ohr Somayach Home Page by
dropping the following text into the HTML document of YOUR home page:

<A HREF="http://www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr/index.html" TARGET="_top">The Ohr
Somayach International Home Page</A>

===========================================================================
Next Year at the CENTER of the Universe...Jerusalem

The CENTER for Torah Studies

For Information on
Yeshiva Year Abroad
at The CENTER, contact
The CENTER for Torah Studies
POB 18103, Jerusalem, 91180 Israel Tel: 02-810315, Fax: 972-2-812-890
E-Mail: center@ohr.israel.net
World Wide Web: www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr/web/yya/index.htm

A Division Of Ohr Somayach Institutions - Tanenbaum College
===========================================================================
**    Spend This Coming Summer Break In Israel For As Little As $599     **
**                    (including airfare from New York)                  **
** For complete information:                                             **
** o  send E-Mail to Rabbi Zalman Corlin:  RZCorlin@aol.com              **
** o  In the U.S. call toll-free 800-431-2272 / 212-213-3100             **
** o  See the JLE Home Page: www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr/web/jle/index.htm   **
===========================================================================
                                 SUBSCRIBE!

to one of the many weekly "lists" published by Ohr Somayach Institutions:

       weekly - Summary of the weekly Torah portion
      dafyomi - Rav Mendel Weinbach's insights into the Daf Yomi
          ask - The Rabbi answers YOUR questions on Judaism
   parasha-qa - Challenging questions on the weekly Torah portion
   os-special - All the SPECIAL publications produced by Ohr Somayach
      os-alum - "B'Yachad" - the Ohr Somayach Electronic Alumni Newsletter
     judaismo - Spanish-Language newsletter on the Parsha & Judaism
        month - Seasons of the Moon - The Jewish Year through its months

Ohr Somayach NEVER charges for any of the above lists.
To subscribe, send the message:  subscribe {listname} {your full name}
                            to:  listproc@jer1.co.il
===========================================================================
Ask The Rabbi is written at
Ohr Somayach Institutions / Tanenbaum College, Jerusalem, Israel.
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
===========================================================================
Dedication opportunities are available for Ask The Rabbi.
Please contact us for details.
===========================================================================
   Jewish   L         EEEEEEEE  Prepared by the Jewish Learning Exchange of
     J      L         E         Ohr Somayach International
     J      L         E         22 Shimon Hatzadik Street, POB 18103
     J      L         Exchange  Jerusalem 91180, Israel
     J      L         E         Tel: 972-2-810315 Fax: 972-2-812890
J    J      L         E         Internet: ohr@jer1.co.il
 JJJJ       Learning  EEEEEEEE  Web: www.jer1.co.il/orgs/ohr
===========================================================================
(C) 1996 Ohr Somayach International - All rights reserved.
This publication may be distributed to another person intact without prior
permission.  We also encourage you to include this material in other
publications, such as synagogue newsletters.  However, we ask that you
contact us beforehand for permission, and then send us a sample issue.



