THE SHULCHAN ARUCH DIRECTORY (under construction)

The Halachos of Shabbos (Night) back to the "Shabbos Night" page

Siman 272 - On What Kind of "Wine" Kiddush Is Said

Kitzur Shulchan Aruch material for the siman: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Material from Rav Ostroff about kiddush over challos [i.e. "challah" bread]

NOTE: This is a temporary page. We apologize for the lack of proper "design".

Siman 272, se'if 1

(a) Is "wine" which sat uncovered not fit for the Shabbos kiddush (because one would not offer it even to a human official)? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Yes, we do not say kiddush over it. (This reason is why it is unfit even nowadays, when we do not consider it dangerous [as discusses in volume Yoreh Dei'ah, siman 116, se'if 1].)

[Classic sources: Bava Basra 97a-b (points2a,b,g,g1,h3,L,L1).]

(b) Is "wine" that "smells like wine" always fit for the Shabbos kiddush, even if it tastes like vinegar or has absorbed a bad smell? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): We do not say kiddush over "wine" with a bad smell.

The Rema writes (put simply): In addition, we do not say kiddush over "wine" which tastes like vinegar.

[Classic sources: Bava Basra ibid. (points2a,b,g,g1,k) (and 96a - points1b2ii,6).]

Siman 272, se'if 2

Is fresh [i.e. recently pressed] grape juice considered "wine" fit for the Shabbos kiddush? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Yes.

[Classic sources: Bava Basra 97b (points2a-b3).]

Siman 272, se'if 3

(a) Is "wine" which is from "the top of the barrel" or the bottom fit for the Shabbos kiddush? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Yes, even if the top contains "kimchin" [i.e. white specks (Mishnah Berurah)] or the bottom contains sediment. Still, the best way to do the Mitzvah is to choose good wine [i.e. and not these (Mishnah Berurah)].

The Rema writes (put simply): Some hold that wine "from the top" with "kimchin" is unfit until it is strained to remove them.

[Classic sources: Bava Basra 97b (points2a,b,c,d).]

(b) Are "black wine" and "wine" of grapes which became sweet fit for the Shabbos kiddush? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Yes; however, the best way to do the Mitzvah is to choose good wine.

The Bi'ur Halacha writes (put simply): This implies both sun-sweetening of the grapes or on their own, but the latter is questionable.

[Classic sources: Bava Basra 97b (points2a,b,e,f).]

(c) Is "wine" which still has the taste of wine always fit for the Shabbos kiddush, even if it already smells like vinegar? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Yes; however, the best way to do the Mitzvah is to choose good wine.

[Classic sources: Bava Basra 97b (points2a,b,g,g1,h1) (and 96a - points1b2ii,6).]

Siman 272, se'if 4

Is white "wine" [i.e. as opposed to red] fit for the Shabbos kiddush or havdalah? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): The "minhag of the world" follows the position that it is fit. However, the Ramban holds that for kiddush, it is unfit - even bedieved.

[Classic sources: Bava Basra 97b (points2a,b,e,f,m-n) (and Yerushalmi Pesachim 69a).]

Siman 272, se'if 5

Is it proper to dilute the "wine" before saying the Shabbos kiddush over it (or is it fit for that regardless)? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): It is better to dilute it (correctly), but it is fit even if it is still so strong that one [who wishes to dilute such strong wine] adds three parts water to one part wine.

The Rema writes (put simply): [However,] our wines are better without being diluted.

[Classic sources: Bava Basra 97b (points2a,b,g,g1,h2), Berachos 50b (points4f-h).]

Siman 272, se'if 6

Is raisin "wine" fit for the Shabbos kiddush? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Yes.

The Rema writes (put simply): This is only if they have some (small) amount of moisture in them (i.e. even before steeping).

[Classic sources: Bava Basra 97b (points2a,b,e,f).]

Siman 272, se'if 7

If one steeped in water either "chartzanim" [see siman 204 se'if 6 which discusses the proper bracha for steeped grape shells and seeds (Rema)] or wine sediment [see ibid. se'if 5 (Rema)], is the result fit for the Shabbos kiddush? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Yes, in those cases in which the bracha said over wine [i.e. "boray p'ri haGafen"] is said over it.

[Classic sources: Bava Basra 97b (points2a,b,g,g1,i-j2).]

Siman 272, se'if 8

(a) Is "wine" which has been cooked [or smoked] fit for the Shabbos kiddush? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Yes; however, some hold no.

The Rema writes (put simply): The minhag is to use this for kiddush, even if one has other "wine" which is merely "not as good".

[Classic sources: Menachos 86b (point5g), Yerushalmi Pesachim 69b.]

(b) Is "wine" fit for the Shabbos kiddush if honey has been added [and similarly regarding sugar (Mishnah Berurah)]? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Yes; however, some hold no.

The Rema writes (put simply): The minhag is to use this for kiddush, even if one has other "wine" which is merely "not as good".

[Classic sources: Yerushalmi Pesachim 69a.]

Siman 272, se'if 9

(a) Is "chamar medinah" (i.e. "wine of the area", such as beer [where it is that]) fit for the Shabbos kiddush? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Some say so (where wine is not [so] available), some disagree, and according to the Rosh at night one should not use that (but rather bread - see question c), whereas in the morning it is better (since if he [simply] says the bracha over his bread at the outset he has made no deviation [from a weekday meal]) - i.e. he should say [the bracha of] "shehakol" [over the beer etc.] before his bracha of "hamotzi" [over the bread], and his words are [quite] reasonable.

The Rema writes (put simply): The minhag is in fact like the Rosh.

[Classic sources: Pesachim 107a (points1g-h,2a-b,e,e1,g1,i,L-m).]

(b) What is considered "chamar medinah" (which may be fit for kiddush or havdalah on Shabbos)? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): Beer and other [comparable] drinks, but not [under any circumstances] water.

(c) Is bread fit to be used for the Shabbos kiddush, instead of wine? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): The Rosh certainly implies that it can be used [see above question a].

The Rema writes (put simply): [However,] if there is wine [to be had] in one's city, he should not say kiddush over bread.

[Classic sources: Pesachim 106b (point4b1).]

(d) If one's practice is to abstain from wine, how should he decide whether to say the Shabbos evening kiddush over bread? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Rema writes (put simply): Under those circustances (such as if he made a neder-vow not to drink wine), he should say kiddush over bread only if there are no other people there to say kiddush for him (or to drink the wine).

Siman 272, se'if 10

(a) What drinking does the bracha before "wine" within the Shabbos kiddush include? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): [Even] wine drunk during the meal [as well as after the meal (Mishnah Berurah)].

[Classic sources: Berachos 42a-b (points3a,e-j) (and the Gemara on 42b).]

(b) Is a bracha said after drinking the "wine" of the Shabbos kiddush? [Request "Halacha Sources" discussion]

The Shulchan Aruch writes (put simply): No; Birkas HaMazon [i.e. the brachos said after the meal] covers it even if it is said without a cup of wine [and even if no wine is drunk during the meal (Mishnah Berurah, from the Rema's reference to 174:6)].