From the Rav’s Desk: Saying Shehakol on drinks after Kiddush in Shul

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  1. Question: [Sunday, 5th Adar 1, 5782]

After kiddush is said in Shul by Shabbos day, most people, myself included, do not usually drink from the kiddush wine and simply begin eating afterwards. I understand that drinking from the kiddush wine is not an obligation so that is not my question. My question is regarding the drinks that I have after kiddush and if they are included in the blessing of Hagafen. Do I have to say a blessing of Shehakol on these drinks since I did not actually drink any wine for Kiddush, or do we say that since I was Yotzei Kiddush with the Hagafen that was said over the wine, therefore all the drinks on the table are included in this blessing even if I did not drink any of the actual wine?

 

Answer:

You must recite a Shehakol over the drinks you have after Kiddush if you did not have any actual wine to drink after Kiddush.

Explanation: The law is that the blessing of Hagafen on wine exempts the blessing of Shehakol on all other liquids that are present at the table, or one had in mind to drink, at the time of the blessing. The reason for this is because wine is the head of all drinks, and therefore it is the main drink regarding a blessing and all other drinks are secondary to it. However, this only applies if one actually drank wine. If, however, one heard the blessing from another person but did not drink wine, then he cannot fulfill his obligation over a Shehakol beverage with this Hagafen that he heard, just like one who said Hagafen over water does not fulfill his obligation. This applies even by kiddush, as although the sages allowed one to fulfill his obligation of kiddush by simply hearing the blessings, this is very different than the laws of Birchas Hanehnin which requires that one actually drink wine to be exempt from saying a blessing on other beverages.

Sources: See regarding the general rule that hagafen exempts all other drinks: Seder 1:21; Luach 5:11; Admur 174:4 and 7; 204:12; 272:13; Michaber 174:2 and 208:16; Rabbeinu Yona Brachos 29a; Rosh Brachos 26; Rebbe Chiya in Brachos 41b; Ketzos Hashulchan 53:13 and 60:7; M”B and Kaf Hachaim on 174 and 208 ibid; Piskeiy Teshuvos 174:1-7; See regarding that if one heard Kiddush but did not drink any wine, then he must recite a blessing over other drinks: Derech Hachaim Hilchos Kiddush 71:8; M”B 174:3

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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