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We are beginning siman 3, where the Chayei Adam discusses havdalah. We know there are multiple types of havdalah–on the kos, in shemoneh esrei, and the verbal recitation of baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol. The Chayei Adam writes that originally, the method for havdalah was to say it in shemoneh esrei. Klal Yisroel were poor, and Chazal felt it would be an unnecessary burden for them to make havdalah on wine. As Klal Yisroel became more wealthy, Chazal moved the chiyuv from shemoneh esrei to the kos. Klal Yisroel again became impoverished, and Chazal returned havdala to shmoneh esrei. They also enacted that even when Klal Yisroel becomes more wealthy, they would perform havdalah through both means. Thus, we end up with the halacha that we say atah chonantanu in shemoneh esrei in addition to havdalah on a kos.
If one forgot atah chonantanu the bracha of atah chonein, once they say baruch atah Hashem, they can no longer go back to recite atah chonantanu. Since they will anyways fulfill their chiyuv with the kos, there is no need to go back to add atah chonantanu. On the other hand, since they have not heard havdalah on the kos yet, they cannot perform melacha. If a person does recite atah chonantanu, they are allowed to perform melacha, although we will see a minhag to wait until the kedusha after maariv or until havdalah on the kos.
If a person says baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol, it is the equivalent of atah chonantanu, and they are technically allowed to perform melacha, besides for the minhag mentioned above.
On the other hand, if a person is not able to recite havdalah on a kos, and they forgot atah chonantanu, they will have to repeat shemoneh esrei in order to perform havdalah.
Summary
- Chazal instituted that Klal Yisroel perform havdalah through atah chonantanu and havdalah on a kos.
- If one forgot atah chonantanu, once they recite Hashem’s name in the bracha of atah chonein, they do not go back, since they will anyways recite havdalah on a kos. However, until then, they cannot perform melacha. It they recite Baruch hamavdil bain kodesh l’chol, they may do melacha.
- On the other hand, if they know they will be unable to recite havdalah on a kos, they would have to go back to atah chonantanu. If they had already finished shemoneh esrei, they would repeat shemoneh esrei.
- Even after reciting atah chonantanu, the minhag is to refrain from certain melacha until after the kedusha of maariv, or until havdalah on a kos.
