Very often, on Shabbat mornings, the Rabbi recites Kiddush on behalf of others, who fulfill their obligation of Kiddush by listening to the Rabbi's recitation. The question arises, if they then wish to drink water, soda, coffee or the like, must they recite the Beracha of She'hakol before drinking?
Underlying this question is a basic rule that the Beracha of Ha'gefen recited over wine covers all beverages drunk subsequently. If a person recites Ha'gefen and drinks wine, he does not recite She'hakol if he then drinks water or juice. In light of this principle, one might wonder whether this would apply as well if someone did not personally recite Ha'gefen, but listened to the Beracha's recitation by another person to fulfill his obligation of Kiddush. Since by listening to the Beracha one is considered as having himself recited the Beracha with regard to the obligation of Kiddush, perhaps he is similarly considered to have recited the Beracha as far as subsequent drinking is concerned, and he would therefore not recite She'hakol over beverages he drinks after hearing Kiddush.
The Halacha in such a case depends on whether or not the individual drank some wine after answering "Amen" to Kiddush. If one held a cup of wine or grape juice during Kiddush and drank it after answering "Amen," then he is indeed considered as having personally recited Ha'gefen, and he would therefore not recite She'hakol if he then wishes to drink other beverages. If, however, a person listened to Kiddush and did not drink any wine or grape juice, then although he certainly fulfills his obligation of Kiddush, Halacha does not consider him to have personally recited the Beracha, and he must therefore recite She'hakol before drinking other beverages.
It should be noted that the Poskim (halachic authorities) disagree as to how much wine or grape juice a person must drink to be exempted from reciting She'hakol over other beverages. The Bei'ur Halacha (written by the Chafetz Chayim, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, Poland, 1839-1933) was of the opinion that Halacha considers a person to have actually recited the Beracha of Ha'gefen only if he drinks a "Melo Lugmav" (a little more than 1.5 oz.). If he drinks less than this amount, then he must recite She'hakol before drinking other beverages. By contrast, Chacham Bentzion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1924-1998) understood the position of the Shulchan Aruch to be that even if one takes a small sip of wine or grape juice after hearing Kiddush, he does not recite She'hakol over beverages he drinks subsequently.
Thus, if one hears Kiddush and drinks even a small amount of wine or grape juice, he does not recite She'hakol over other beverages that he drinks thereafter. If, however, he did not drink any wine or grape juice after hearing Kiddush, he must recite She'hakol before drinking other beverages.
