Kiddush: Difference between revisions

#Red vs White

##It is better to use red wine for kiddush.<ref>The discussion here revolves around how to understand two gemaras in bava batra. Towards the top of 97b the gemara says that wine which is "borak" is fit bdieved for the mizbeach, and thus fit lechatchila for kiddush. Rashbam there says that this refers to white wine. However, the gemara at the end of the daf asks whether wine which is "chavaryan" is fit for kiddush, and answers with the verse "אל תרא יין כי יתאדם" (lit: do not look at wine when it is red). The context of this verse from sefer mishlei is that Shlomo Hamelech is speaking of the ills of drinking, but the verse implies that red wine is considered better and more respectable. Thus, by answering with this pasuk, the gemara seems to be saying that one should not use white wine for kiddush. How do we resolve these two gemaras? The various approaches in the rishonim will help clarify our question of whether one may use white wine for kiddush.  

(1) Rashbam understands that really the latter gemara (regarding חמר חווריין) is asking only with respect to bringing it as a libation on the mizbeach. Thus there is no contradiction at all! The first gemara says that white wine is fit for kiddush, and the second gemara is simply saying that it is preferably not brought as nesachim (which the first gemara agrees to). Thus, white wine would be perfectly acceptable for kiddush.  

(2) Ramban disagrees. He thinks that both gemaras are discussing kiddush. They are just talking about two different types of wine. The latter gemara rules that white wine ("חווריין") is not fit for kiddush. The first gemara is either talking about wine which is not as white (see Tosfot s.v. chamar who says something similar), or really the correct girsa is "יין בודק" which refers to wine that is so strong that it is "bodek" (lit: checks) one's entire body. Thus there is no contradiction between the two gemaras since they are just discussing different types of wine. According to the ramban then, white wine would be unfit for kiddush.

The Shulchan Aruch 272:4 cites the position of the Rashbam as the stam (that one may use white wine for kiddush lechatchila), and then cites the Ramban by name as a dissenting view (that even bdieved one is not yotzeh with white wine), but concludes that the minhag accords with the Rashbam. The Mishna Brurah 272:10 writes that even the Rashbam that all things being equal (i.e. the two wines are identical other than their color), it's better to make kiddush on red wine. Furthermore, in 272:12 the Mishna Brurah cites the Elya Rabah that if the wine which is very white, it is proper to be concerned for the shita of the Ramban and not use it for kiddush. Chazon Ovadia (Hilchot Shabbat, Chelek 2, Page 82) says it's preferable to make kiddush on red wine. </ref>

##If only white wine is available, then one may make kiddush on it.<ref>See previous note. Chazon Ovadia, Hilchot Shabbat, Chelek 2, Page 82 </ref>

##One may only make kiddush on wine that is proper (bdieved) for nisuch on the mizbeach.<ref>Bava batra 97a. Tur siman 272. </ref>  

##Malodorous

###Bad-smelling wine is pasul for the mizbeach and therefore may not be used.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 272:1</ref> However, it  can be fixed by adding other wine to it.<ref>Chazon Ovadia, Hilchot Shabbat, Chelek 2, Page 78 </ref>  

##Mevushal (lit: cooked)<ref>The Tur (272) cites from Rabbenu Shmaya b'shem Rashi that the bracha on cooked wine is shehakol (since cooking it changes it for the worse), and therefore one would not be able to make kiddush on it. However, the Tur then cites that Rabbenu Tam and the Ri and the Rosh all disagree and say that the bracha is still hagafen, and thus one could make kiddush on it. See Tosfot (bava batra 97a s.v. ileimah) who explicitly cites Rashi and rejects him based on the yerushalmi (found both in shkalim and arvei psachim) that one may use cooked wine for the four cups on the seder night, the first of which being kiddush. The debate between all the aforementioned rishonim seems to be whether cooking the wine turns the bracha into shehakol (so can't use it for kiddush), or not (so you could use it for kiddush). The Rambam (hilchot shabbat 29:14), however, has an interesting position. He holds that the bracha on cooked wine is hagafen (see Maggid Mishnah there who makes this point), but still one may not use it for kiddush since it is unfit to be brought as a libation on the mizbeach. </ref>

###Most hold that mevushal wine may be used for kiddush.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 272:8 cites the lenient position as a stam, and then cites the strict position as a yesh omrim. Generally speaking, when the mechaber has a stam v'achar kach yesh omrim, the halacha follows the stam. Chazon Ovadia, Hilchot Shabbat, Chelek 2, Page 115.  </ref>

###However, some say that it may not be used.<ref>As mentioned, the Shulchan Aruch 272:8 cites this shita as a yesh omrim. The Rama says that the minhag is to make kiddush on cooked wine, even if one has uncooked wine available, but only if the cooked wine is better. The Mishna Brurah 272:23 explains that if there is no difference in quality between the two wines, then one should use the uncooked wine. The Shar Hatziyon s.k. 31 points one to the Elyah Rabah citing the Agudah, who suggests (as explained by dirshu footnote 21) that even if the cooked wine is superior to the uncooked wine, one should still make kiddush on the uncooked wine provided that it is still good (just not as good as the cooked one). </ref>

##Sweet

###Others disagree, and say that the rule that kiddush wine must be fit for the mizbeach is actually only meant to exclude malodorous wine or wine that has been left exposed.<ref>Rambam hilchot shabbat 29:14 cites this position as well, even though he disagrees with it. The Shulchan Aruch 272:8 paskens like this shita as the stam. The Rama says that the minhag is to make kiddush on wine with honey added, even if one has other wine available, but only if the honey-wine is better. The Mishna Brurah 272:23 explains that if there is no difference in quality between the two wines, then one should use the regular wine, in order to be chosheish for the shita of the Rambam where possible.</ref>

####The same ruling applies for all sweet wines.<ref>Chazon Ovadia, Hilchot Shabbat, Chelek 2, Page 119 </ref>

##Exposed

###One should not make kiddush on wine that has been left open overnight.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 272:1 based on gemara bava batra 97b. Even though nowadays we are no longer concerned for the possibility that a snake came overnight and drank from it, nevertheless we still do not use it for kiddush. Mishna Brurah 272:3 explains that this is because of the principle of הקריבהו נא לפחתך (lit: bring it now to your governor), which basically says that we shouldn't do things for Hashem that wouldn't be befitting to do for a ruler of flesh and blood. It is considered unseemly to give someone of importance a gift of wine that has been left out, and therefore we shouldn't use it for kiddush either.  </ref>

####Nevertheless, bdieved one has fulfilled the obligation if one made kiddush on it.<ref>Chazon Ovadia, Hilchot Shabbat, Chelek 2, Page 78 </ref>

###It is permissible to use wine that was left open if it was stored in a closet or refrigerator.<ref>Chazon Ovadia, Hilchot Shabbat, Chelek 2, Page 78 </ref>

#If wine tastes like wine and smells like vinegar then it is permissible for making kiddush, but if wine tastes like vinegar and smells like wine then it is prohibited for making kiddush.<ref>Chazon Ovadia, Hilchot Shabbat, Chelek 2, Page 82, based on Rambam, Hilchot Shabbat, Perek 29, Halachot 15 and 17, and Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, 272:3 </ref>