Is it permissible for a woman to eat or drink upon waking up on Shabbat morning before she hears or recites Kiddush?
In general, it is forbidden every morning for a person to eat before praying Shaharit. One may, however, drink water, tea or coffee before praying Shaharit in the morning, as the Sages did not go so far in applying the prohibition, and allowed simple drinks before one prays. On Shabbat morning, however, the situation becomes more complicated due to the separate prohibition against eating or drinking before Kiddush. This prohibition applies even to drinks, including water. As soon as the Kiddush obligation takes effect on Shabbat morning, one may not eat or drink anything until he hears or recites Kiddush.
However, the Kiddush obligation does not take effect on Shabbat morning until one prays Shaharit. Therefore, generally speaking, one is allowed to drink water, tea and coffee before Shaharit on Shabbat morning, just like on any other morning. Once he prays Shaharit, however, then he may not eat or drink anything until he recites or hears Kiddush.
With regard to a woman, then, the Halacha depends on whether or not she normally prays Shaharit in the morning. Some women do not normally pray Shaharit, and for such a woman, the Kiddush obligation takes effect immediately when she wakes up on Shabbat morning. As such, she may not eat or drink anything on Shabbat morning until Kiddush. If she does not want to wait for her husband to recite Kiddush, she may simply pour herself a cup of wine, recite the Beracha of "Boreh Peri Ha’gefen," and drink a cheek full of wine. (She does not have to recite "Mizmor Le’David" or "Ve’shameru"; it suffices for her to simply recite the Beracha of "Gefen.") She may then eat or drink as she pleases.
If a woman normally prays Shaharit in the morning, then her status on Shabbat morning is no different than a man’s. She may drink tea, coffee or water before praying Shaharit, but after she prays, she may not eat or drink anything until Kiddush.
This is the ruling of Hacham Ben Sion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1923-1998).
Summary: On Shabbat morning, a woman who normally prays Shaharit may drink water, tea or coffee before praying Shaharit, but she may not eat or drink anything else. After praying Shaharit, she may not eat or drink anything until Kiddush. (These Halachot apply equally to men.) If a woman normally does not pray Shaharit, then on Shabbat morning she may not eat or drink anything, even water, until she recites or hears Kiddush.
