The following Halachos were reviewed by HaRav Yisroel Belsky, Shlita:
1. The Crock Pot’s Blech. The commonly-accepted practice is that one places a piece of aluminum foil on top of the heating element of the crock pot to serve as a blech between the heating element and the pot itself. This foil extends over the temperature dial to ensure that the dial will not be adjusted on Shabbos. We note that the dial should be adjusted to the appropriate setting (typically between two and three) before the aluminum foil blech is inserted--otherwise, if the setting is adjusted after the foil is put on, the blech is clearly not preventing you from adjusting the dial! (Shmiras Shabbos K’Hilchasa, Chapter 1, footnote 185).
2. The Light of Havdala. When making Havdala, we also make a special brocha of thanks to Hashem for providing us with light. This brocha, borei meorei haesh, is made Motzei Shabbos only, since this is when Odom HaRishon discovered fire (Pesachim 53B). One cannot make this brocha (or be yotzeh with the person making Havdala) unless he or she is actually close enough to the ner Havdala to be able to distinguish between two coins, such as an American nickel and a Canadian nickel. The equivalent of this is to be able to distinguish between the fingernails of one’s hand and the skin on the palm and on the fingers, using only the light of the ner Havdala (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 298:4).
Accordingly, family members should take care not to stand at the other end of the room from the Havdala candle, but rather close to it, when the person making Havdala recites the borei meorei haesh. As to how you should actually demonstrate your benefit from the ner, entitling you to make a brocha, see ibid. 298:3.
Note: Generally, only the person making Havdala should make the brocha over the besomim and the ner, even though all others smell the besomim and benefit from the ner (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 297, Mishne Berurah seif katan 13).
Important Numbers
