DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 608 KB)
The Status of Wine Touched by a Non-Jewish Child; The Status of Products that May Have Been Mixed with Non-Jewish Wine

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1839-1933), in Parashat Balak (Halacha 2), discusses the prohibition of Setam Yenam, which forbids partaking of the wine of a non-Jew or wine that was touched by a non-Jew (listen to audio recording for precise citation). If the non-Jew is an idolater, than the wine is forbidden both for drinking and for any other kind of benefit.

However, the Ben Ish Hai writes, if a non-Jewish, pagan child touches the wine, and the child is too young to understand the concept of idolatry of idolatrous worship, then the wine he touches is forbidden only for drinking. Since the child is too young to worship idols with an understanding of what it means, one may derive benefit from the wine he touches. The wine is, however, forbidden for drinking, even if the child is just a newborn infant.

This applies only to children of non-Jewish pagans. In the case of a Moslem infant who touches wine without intending at all to touch it, the wine is permissible even for drinking. Moslems believe in the oneness of God, and are thus not considered idolaters. Therefore, the status of wine that they touch is more lenient than that of wine touched by idolaters. Specifically, wine touched by a Moslem is forbidden only for drinking, but not for other forms of benefit. And additionally, the Ben Ish Hai claims, if a Moslem infant touches wine unintentionally, the wine is permissible even for drinking.

In the next Halacha, the Ben Ish Hai addresses the question of "Safek Setam Yenam" – a product regarding which we are uncertain whether it contains non-Jewish wine, or wine regarding which we are uncertain whether it was touched by a non-Jew. The Ben Ish Hai writes that in cases where we are uncertain whether it is the wine of a Moslem, the wine may be used, even for drinking. He gives an example of a certain kind of honey that Arab merchants would occasionally mix together with wine. The Ben Ish Hai writes that this product may be eaten, noting that Rav Haim Vital (1543-1620) testified to the fact that the Arizal (Rav Yishak Luria of Safed, 1534-1572) partook of this kind of honey. Since it is questionable whether or not the honey contains non-Jewish wine, and the non-Jew in this case in any event is a Moslem, who is not considered an idolater, the honey is permissible.

Summary: If a child of non-Jewish pagans touched wine, the wine is forbidden for drinking, but other forms of benefit are permissible. If the child of non-Jews who believe in a single God – such as Moslems – touches wine, and did not have any intention to touch the wine – as in the case of a young infant – the wine is permissible even for drinking. If a product might contain wine of Moslems, and this is uncertain, the product is permissible for consumption.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Does One Recite a Beracha Over a Secondary Food That Was Brought Only After He Recited the Beracha Over the Primary Food?
If One Eats the Secondary Food Before the Primary Food
The Beracha Over Cereal with Milk, and Yogurt with Fruit
If One Recited a Beracha Over a Cracker With Cheese, and Some Cheese Was Left Over
If a Person Changes His Mind and Decides Not to Eat After Listening to a Beracha
If a Person Mistakenly Concluded “Al Ha’mihya” With the Words “Al Ha’perot”
Fulfilling One’s Requirement by Listening to a Beracha Recited by Another Person
The Requirement of “Shem U’malchut” in a Beracha
Does the Beracha of “Gefen” Cover Other Beverages if One Does Not Intend to Drink More Wine?
Halachot Concerning the Berachot Over Wine, Fruit Juice and Coffee
Does One Recite a Beracha Over Beer or Whiskey Drunk During a Maal if HaMosi Was Recited?
Does One Recite a Beracha Over Tea and Coffee Drunk After a Meal If Ha'Mosi Was Recited ?
Must One Recite a Beracha Over Water or Wine During a Meal Where One Recited Ha'motzi?
Is Wine Still Considered A ‘Bore Peri HaGefen’ And Acceptable for Kiddush If It is Diluted
The Sequence of Berachot When Eating Cake With Coffee
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found