1. Which light and spices one can make the berachah on?

The berachah of האש מאורי בוראis recited only on a flame lit for illumination. If it was lit solely for

other purposes, such as cooking, or to honor a prominent person sitting in a beis haknesses or beis

midrash, or to honor the deceased at his funeral, no berachah is recited.

Similarly, a berachah of בשמים מיני בורא is recited only for a fragrance designated for the enjoyment

of its smell. A fragrance used for other purposes, such as perfuming clothing or removing the odor

of a decaying corpse, does not merit a berachah.

2. What is considered deriving benefit from the light?

There is a machlokes regarding the Mishnah’s meaning when it says one may not make a berachah

over the flame until he benefits from its illumination – שיאותו עד הנר על מברכין אין .

• Rav Yehuda in the name of Rav says that one does not actually have to benefit from the light—

the berachah is made as long as the light is strong enough that one could benefit from it, even

though he is standing far away and can’t benefit from it.

• Rava says that the berachah is only made when he is close enough to the light that he could

benefit from it.

This is the basis for looking at one’s fingernails when making the berachah on the flame in

Havdalah. Distinguishing between the fingernail and its surrounding skin is similar to discerning the

difference between two different small coins or two different weights that are similar in

appearance.

3. Making the berachah vs. saying amein

There is a machlokes Tanna’im regarding whether it is preferable to make a berachah or to answer

amein to it.

• One Baraisa holds that saying amein is greater. R’ Nehorai likens it to battle, where the common

soldiers engage the enemy first, followed by the elite troops, who come in to seal the victory.

• Another Baraisa holds that the Heavenly emissaries hasten more to bestow reward on the one

making the berachah than on the one answering amein.

Siman – A Nigerian Prince

The Nigerian Prince held his fingers up to benefit from the light that had been lit for illumination (not for

his honor) and made a berachah on all of his riches while his champion servants proudly proclaimed

amein.

Key Words – lit for illumination, derive benefit, berachah vs. amein