Havdalah and Doctor’s Appointment on Tisha B’Av
- Rabbi Daniel Travis

- Jul 22
- 1 min read

Question
I recently had a serious operation, and although I do not need to eat on Tisha B’Av, since I am still not fully recovered from my sickness, I will have to drink small amounts. Should I use a normal cup of wine for Havdalah or should I only drink shiurim?
Furthermore, I have a doctor’s appointment on the morning of Tisha B’Av. May I sit on a chair while waiting for the doctor’s appointment, and when my turn comes, may I speak to the doctor normally?
Rav Auerbach
The best thing would be if a child drinks from the Havdalah wine [or grape juice]. If there is no child available to do this, you should drink a little bit. Even though one normally needs to drink a malei lugmov from a kos shel brocha, bedieved you are yotzei your chiyuv with a small amount of wine, which should be less than the volume of thirty-five grams.
As far as your doctor’s appointment, whatever you need for refuah you may speak to the doctor about, even on Tisha B’Av. During the time you are waiting and speaking to the doctor, you may sit on a chair.


