KEDUSHAS SHABBOS
Rabbi Roberts

Q & A, Session 1
 

In some shuls, why does the Chazan say Kiddush on Friday night? I know a boy drinks the wine – does this mean that the Chazan has not discharge is obligation?

This custom is a throwback to the time when there were indigents that would eat and sleep in the shul – some shuls have maintained this custom, the chazzan has certainly not discharged his obligation if he does not drink.

Is it always better for a man to exempt a woman, than for a woman to make her own kiddush?

I am not sure where this assumption comes from – ie that it is ever better for a man to exempt a woman – they are equally obligated, though the standard custom is that the man makes Kiddush for the entire family.

If the husband makes kiddush and hands out the wine glasses, do I have to make my own brocho?

No.

What is the distribution procedure when some people want to drink wine and some want grape juice?

Essentially the same.

Can children eat their supper on shabbos before kiddush?

Yes

Am I right in saying that Krias Shema should be said as soon after nacht as possible or if you forget as soon as you remember? Can you say Krias Shema during the meal, if you have started before nacht?

Once you have started the meal, assuming that you started at a permissible time (ie before half-an-hour before Nacht, you do not need to interrupt your meal, you should, however, say it straight after bentshing.

Can a nursing woman drink water after sunset?

Only if she feels that she must because she is weak, nursing, etc.

Who is the Tzitz Eliezer mentioned in the shiur?

Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg shlita, eminent Poseik in Yerushalayim, author of 22-volume series of response entitled Tztitz Eliezer.

If I make kiddush for me and my kids, do I have them in mind if they are pre-bar/bas mitzvah?

You should do, though they are only obligated from a chinuch perspective if they are 6 or older.

My three year old ‘makes kiddush’ (just ‘borei pri hagafen’) for himself in the summer before going to bed – is this good/bad/indifferent?

Just too cute!

Can a woman make kiddush once it is nightfall before the men come back from shul if she is too weak to wait to eat/drink?

The basic answer is yes, though she must drink a full revi’is of wine/grape juice

Regarding the proper time for making kiddush on Friday night: if you are waiting for guests and everyone else has returned from shul, how long is it acceptable to wait for the guests before making kiddush? And if you only have two challas does that mean it’s ok to wait longer?

There is a balance that needs to be struck here between civility and halacha – the best thing is to advise your guests what time you expect them, if they then don’t show up, I guess you have to wait for them.

Can you please clarify the halacha of flawed wine and the procedure for pouring leftover wine from your cup into the bottle.

Flawed wine is leftover wine from a container that has been drunk directly from. It is rectified by pouring a little unflawed wine into the cup that was drunk from, then pouring it all back into the bottle.

Can you please clarify the procedure of how you should pick up and hold the kiddush cup before making Kiddush.

Preferably lifted with both hands then held only in palm of right hand (or left for a leftie). The fingers should extend upwards and envelop the cup.

When making the brocho over the challas, at what point do you raise them? Should the challas be covered or uncovered at this point?

They are raised when pronouncing Hashem’s name, They are uncovered when making the brocha of hamotzi.

Is it alright if the kiddush cup has a dent in the side of it?

Yes.

Can you explain the concept of Mevushal?

Wine that is cooked (there is a big debate as to whether commercial pasteurisation constitutes ‘cooking’) is not susceptible to Stam Yainom (wine poured by a Gentile), hence there is a preference according to some to use cooked wine for Kiddush to negate the possibility of the wine being Stam Yainom.

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