Kiddush: Difference between revisions

# If one doesn't have wine on Friday night, kiddush may be recited over chamar medina (beer or any other drink which is common in that place besides for water), but preferably should be recited over the bread, and one should keep his hands on the bread throughout the kiddush. <ref> S"A 272:9 writes that some say one should say kiddush on chamar medina, some say not to say kiddush at all, and some who say that bread should be used for kiddush because of its importance. Rama 279:2 comments that the minhag is like the last opinion. Kaf HaChayim 272:50 writes that Shulchan Aruch holds like the last opinion. Mishnah Berura 272:28 says to put your hands on the challah. Rav Avigdor Neventzahl in his commentary on Mishna Brurah (Biyitzchak Yikare 272:28) says that one should actually hold the challah. </ref>  

# If there's no wine available during shabbat lunch, priority should be given to chamar medina over the use of the bread. If one doesn't even have Chamar Medina, one should just say hamotzi and eat the bread, and if he doesn't even have bread one may eat without Kiddish. <ref> S"A 289:2, Mishna Brurah 289:10. The logic behind not using bread for kiddish during the day is explained by MB 272:31 that if one were to recite the daytime kiddish over bread, it would be the same procedure as if he wasn't saying kiddush at all. Therefore, to make it apparent that we are saying kiddish also, we say a beracha that wouldn't normally be recited, even if that is a shehakol. As for the definition of chamar medina Mishnah Berura 272:24 says that even beer is only permitted in a place where it is a common drink. In MB 272:25 he prohibits the use of milk or oil, and in MB 272:30 he permits the use of liquor. Rav Avigdor Neventzahl in Biyitzchak Yikare footnote 25 says that according to Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach milk is not allowed even in places where it is commonly used like Switzerland. He also says that juice, tea, or coffee maybe permitted but soda is definitely not because it is just like water. Rav Moshe Feinstein in Iggerot Moshe OC 2:75 defines chamar medina as something you would serve to guests who you want to show respect to. Also see Shevet Halevi 3:26 and 5:32 where Rav Vosner says even where you have wine, chamar medina can be used because in the times of the gemara, wine was far more widespread. Today however, most people do not drink wine so often so other drinks are not inferior to wine for kiddish. </ref>