DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 818 KB)
The Status of Wine That Was Looked at by an Idolater

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in Parashat Balak, cites a remarkable custom that is recorded in the work Midrash Talpiyot in the name of Rabbi Menahem Ha’babli’s "Ta’ameh Ha’misvot" (listen to audio recording for precise citation). Rabbi Menahem Ha’babli maintained that it is proper not to drink wine that an idol-worshipping gentile looked upon. According to the strict Halacha, of course, wine is forbidden only if it was handled by a gentile. However, on the level of "Midat Hasidut" (an additional measure of piety), one should preferably avoid wine that an idol-worshipping gentile looked at. This means that if an idolater saw the wine as it was poured from the bottle, or, according to some authorities, even if he saw the wine in a transparent glass or bottle, then it is proper as a "Midat Hasidut" not to drink the wine.

Of course, this applies only to wine that is not Mebushal (meaning, it had not been previously boiled). Wine that is Mebushal is permissible even if a gentile handled it directly, and thus all the more so, one may certainly drink Mebushal wine that was looked upon by an idolater.

Moslems are not considered idolaters, and thus if a Moslem looked upon or touched wine, it remains permissible. But Eastern religions, such as Buddhism, are considered Aboda Zara (idolatry), and therefore these Halachot would apply to practitioners of these faiths who look upon or come in contact with wine.

Although this ruling is an additional stringency that, as mentioned, applies only on the level of "Midat Hasidut," it reminds us of the care that must be taken with regard to matters involving idolatry. A number of years ago, it was discovered that women’s wigs imported into Israel from India were made from hair that had been used as part of a religious ritual. Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv ruled that these wigs had the Halachic status of "Tikrobet Aboda Zara" (idolatrous sacrifices), such that it was forbidden to derive any benefit from them, and they had to be burned. Religious Jewish women had purchased these wigs for purposes of modesty, but in truth were bringing an idolatrous object into their homes. Halacha treats issues concerning idolatry with special severity, and thus these matters must be dealt with very carefully to avoid any possible Torah violation.

Summary: There is a Midat Hasidut (added measure of piety) to refrain from non-Mebushal wine that an idol-worshipping gentile looked at, despite the fact that according to the strict Halacha, non-Mebushal wine becomes forbidden only if it was touched or handled by a gentile.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Reciting Birkat Ha'gomel After Childbirth
Reciting Birkat Ha'gomel in Cases of a Recurring Illness, After Fainting, and After a Failed Suicide Attempt
Leaving a Sefer Open After One Finishes Learning
Adding "U'le'chaparat Pesha" in Musaf on Rosh Hodesh During a Leap Year
Birkat Ha'ilanot- Reciting Birkat Ha'ilanot Over the Same Person's Tree Each Year
Wearing A Kippa (Yarmulke)
Extending a Greeting of "Shalom" with One's Head Uncovered
Leaving a Portion of One's Home Unfinished to Commemorate the Temple's Destruction
Hallel: When During the Day May it be Recited, and May One Interrupt to Answer "Amen"?
May a Woman Kiss a Rabbi's Hand When She Approaches for a Blessing?
Employing the Medical Remedies Mentioned in the Talmud
Allowing a Child or Woman to Affix the Sisit Strings Onto a Tallit
When Is It Required and When Is It Not Required To Allow A Kohen To Bypass Waiting On A Line
Affixing the Sisit Strings to the Tallit with the Specific Intent for the Misva
Can A Teacher Punish and Can A Teacher Demand Of Their Students To Divulge A Culprit
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found