Sheva Berachos Shalosh Seudos (Cont'd)

Q. If Shalosh Seudos ends after Shkia (sunset), do the chosson and kallah drink from the wine of Sheva Berachos? Does the one who bentches drink from the wine?

A. Teshuvos V’Hanhagos (1:749) writes that there are different minhagim as to what to do with the cup of wine from Sheva Berachos in such a case. He writes that the Brisker Rav would not drink the wine, but instead would leave it for Havdalah. This was also the minhag of his father Rav Chaim Soloveitchik zt”l. However, there were also many great poskim, including the Netziv and his son-in-law Rav Refoel of Volozhin (father-in-law of Rav Chaim Soloveitchik) who maintained that the cup of wine from Sheva Berachos must be drunk. Though ordinarily one is forbidden to drink wine before Havdalah, since in this case it is mandatory to drink, it is an exception. Although some have the custom to skip the beracha of Borei Pri Hagafen (and only recite six berachos) to avoid the issue, Teshuvos V’Hanhagos explains that this is incorrect. If the beracha of Borei Pri Hagafen is omitted, then only six berachos were said. This is insufficient, since all the berachos are contingent on each other. He writes that his minhag is that the one who bentches takes a small sip of the wine, and the chosson and kallah should each drink a cheekful of wine. Some have the custom that the chosson should lead the bentching, since the permissibility for the chosson to drink is clearer. Igros Moshe (OC 4:69) writes that the chosson and kallah should drink from the wine a combined amount of a cheekful and the one who leads the bentching should not drink at all. (Note that if the wedding took place on Sunday during the day, Sheva Berachos are not recited at Shalosh Seudos after sunset as it is now potentially the beginning of the 8th day.)

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.