It is customary before reciting the Beracha over wine at Kiddush and Habdala to first announce, "Sabri Maranan." What is the purpose of this announcement?
One explanation for this practice is based upon the Gemara’s comment in Masechet Sanhedrin concerning the procedure that was followed when a court administered capital punishment. The Gemara establishes the Halacha of "Beror Lo Mita Yafa," which means that the execution should be administered in a manner that inflicts the minimum possible pain. Even when a violator must be put to death, this must be done without unnecessary pain, and certainly without torture. One of the methods employed to reduce the pain experienced by the sinner was to give him a cup of wine flavored with spices, so he would become inebriated just before his execution and would not feel the pain.
As such, it became customary when lifting the cup of wine at a table to announce, "Sabri Maranan," assuring everybody that this wine is not brought for execution, but rather for the people at the table to enjoy. The people then respond, "Le’haim," acknowledging that this cup of wine will be drunk for life, and not, Heaven forbid, in anticipation of death.
