DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 816 KB)
Using Beverages Other than Wine and Grape Juice for Kiddush on Shabbat Morning

Kiddush on Shabbat morning should preferably be recited over either wine or grape juice. If one cannot drink wine or grape juice, or if one does not have access to wine or grape juice, then Halacha allow reciting Kiddush over "Hamar Medina," an intoxicating beverage that is commonly drunk in his area of residence. In contemporary times, the most common example of "Hamar Medina" is beer. Therefore, a person who, for whatever reason, cannot recite Kiddush over wine or grape juice should use beer for Kiddush. He should recite the Beracha of "She'hakol Niheya Bi'dvaro" and drink a Revi'it – approximately 3 ounces – of beer.

If a person cannot recite Kiddush over wine, grape juice or beer, is there any other beverage over which he may recite Kiddush?

Maran (Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Shulhan Aruch), in his work Bet Yosef (Siman 289), rules that in such a situation one may recite Kiddush over any beverage other than water. According to this view, one who does not have access to wine, grape juice or beer may recite Kiddush over any fruit juice or even cola. In the Shulhan Aruch, however, Maran retracted this ruling and required that Kiddush be recited over only "Hamar Medina" where wine and grape juice are not available.

As for the final Halacha, Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in his work Yabia Omer, Helek 3, O"H, Siman 19, rules that one who cannot drink wine or grape juice should certainly recite Kiddush over beer, in accordance with the ruling of the Shulhan Aruch. Nevertheless, if a person does not have access to beer, either, then he should recite Kiddush over a beverage other than water and then conduct his Shabbat meal over bread. Since the Kiddush recitation on Shabbat morning consists of only the Beracha over the beverage, using a different beverage does not entail the risk of a Beracha Le'vatala (a "wasted" Beracha). The only potential Halachic dilemma relates to the prohibition against eating and drinking before Kiddush: if Halacha does not allow one to fulfill the Kiddush obligation with other beverages, then one who does so will have drunk and eaten without reciting Kiddush. As Hacham Ovadia notes, however, some Rishonim (Medieval Halachic authorities) permit eating and drinking before Kiddush on Shabbat morning, and thus in a situation where wine, grape juice and beer are not available, one may rely on these authorities and recite Kiddush on any beverage other than water.

Summary: On Shabbat morning one should recite Kiddush specifically over wine or grape juice. If one cannot drink wine or grape juice, or does not have access to wine or grape juice, he should recite Kiddush over beer. If he cannot drink beer or does not have access to beer, then he should recite Kiddush over any beverage other than water.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
How A Person or Chazan Can Make Up Missed Minha Of Erev Shabbat
What Is The Rule For Travelers To and From Israel, For Barech Alenu in The Amidah Starts Earlier In Israel Than America
What to Recite in Lieu of Barechu When Praying Privately
Reciting “Lamedeni Hukecha” During the Amida to Avoid a Beracha Le’batala
Keri'at Shema Al Ha'mita
May the Hazan Recite the Repetition of the Amida if Some of the Ten People Had Prayed Earlier?
Until What Point in the Day May One Recite the Berachot of Shema?
Does One Answer “Amen” to a Beracha of Kaddish in the Middle of Pesukeh De’zimra?
The Prohibition Against Interrupting During Pesukeh De’zimra
May One Step Back for “Oseh Shalom” When Somebody is Praying Behind Him?
Reciting Hallel on Rosh Hodesh; Providing Food for Torah Scholars on Rosh Hodesh
Are Women Required to Recite Birkot Ha’shahar?
Answering “Amen” and Other Responses During Pesukeh De’zimra and During Baruch She’amar
Is it Permissible to Pray in Front of a Mirror or a Window?
The Recitation of “Baruch Hashem Le’olam” Before Va’yebarech David
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found