DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 906 KB)
Does the Beracha of “Gefen” Cover Other Beverages if One Does Not Intend to Drink More Wine?

When one recites the Beracha of "Boreh Peri Ha’gefen" over wine, this Beracha covers all beverages that he intended to drink at that point. Thus, for example, when a person attends a Kiddush, the Beracha he recites over the Kiddush wine covers all the juice, water, beer, scotch and other beverages that he drinks at the Kiddush. Even if a person hears Kiddush and drinks only a small sip of wine, the Beracha over wine that he heard covers all beverages that he had in mind to drink at the Kiddush.

However, Rabbi Moshe Halevi (Israel, 1961-2001), in his work Birkat Hashem (vol. 3, 10:85), imposes a very significant limitation on this Halacha. In his view, the Beracha recited over wine covers the other beverages only so long as a person still intends to drink wine. Since he plans to drink more wine, the Beracha that he recited is still relevant and thus has the capacity to cover all other beverages. Once, however, a person decides not to drink more wine, he must then recite Berachot over the other beverages he drinks. This occurs very commonly at a Kiddush. Many people take only a small sip of wine to fulfill the requirement of Kiddush, and have no intention of drinking any more wine. According to Rabbi Moshe Halevi, they would be required to recite the Beracha over the juice, water or other beverage that they drink at the Kiddush.

Hacham Ovadia Yosef, however, and his son, Hacham David, disagree with this ruling. As Hacham David writes in his Oserot Yosef (vol. 9, Siman 1; listen to audio recording for precise citation), the Beracha over wine covers all beverages that one intended to drink even after he has decided not to drink more wine. He explains that when a person recites the Beracha of "Boreh Peri Ha’gefen" over wine, he is considered as having recited the Beracha over all beverages he intended to drink at that point. Accordingly, he is not required to recite a Beracha over other beverages regardless of whether he plans on drinking more wine. For all intents and purposes, he has already recited the Beracha over other beverages, and he therefore has no reason to recite another Beracha, even after he has decided not to drink more wine. Hacham David notes that this is also the position taken by some earlier authorities, including the Kaf Ha’haim and Mishna Berura.

Summary: The Beracha recited over wine covers all beverages that a person planned to drink at the time he recited the Beracha. This applies even if he drank only a small sip of wine, and even if he does not plan on drinking any more wine after his initial sip.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Making a Zimun When a Third Person Joins After the First Two Finished Eating
Can People Form a Zimun if One Person’s Food is Forbidden for the Others?
When is Birkat Ha’mazon a Torah Obligation?
Can People Sitting at Separate Tables Join Together for a Zimun?
Birkat HaMazon If One Ate a Ke’zayit of Bread Slowly, Over the Course of an Extended Period
Kavana During Birkat Ha’mazon
Must the One Who Leads Birkat Ha’mazon Hold the Cup Throughout the Sheba Berachot?
“She’hakol” and “Boreh Nefashot” if One is Drinking Intermittently in One Location
Using for Kiddush or Birkat Ha’mazon a Cup of Wine From Which One Had Drunk
If the Group or Part of the Group Recited Birkat Ha’mazon Without a Zimun
If Three People Ate Together and One Needs to Leave Early
Should Abridged Texts of Birkat Ha’mazon be Printed in Siddurim?
Making a Zimun When a Third Person Joined After the First Two Finished Eating
The Importance of Using a Cup of Wine for Birkat Ha’mazon; Adding Three Drops of Water to the Cup
If One Ate Half a “Ke’zayit” of Fruit Requiring “Al Ha’etz,” and Half a “Ke’zayit” of Other Fruit
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found