Drinking Before Davening

If one is aware that the seudas Shabbos won’t begin until the afternoon, should they drink prior to davening?

The Shulchan Aruch[1] writes explicitly that one may not fast until six hours into the day. The Biur Halacha[2] points out that there appears to be a debate whether this is a Torah prohibition or merely Rabbinic. He adds that all agree that if one eats but fasts until midday that is certainly only Rabbinically forbidden.[3] The simple explanation would be until chatzos – halachic midday. However, the Magen Avraham[4] assumes it means six hours after one has awoken, but most assume not like the Magen Avraham. It is for this reason that the Mishnah Berurah[5] is critical of the Chazzanim who extend davening past chatzos and thereby all those davening in shul fast on Shabbos.[6]

In order to avoid fasting, the Poskim discuss eating or drinking before davening. The Aruch Hashulchan[7] writes that one should drink water to avoid fasting until chatzos.[8] While the Shulchan Aruch[9] allows one to drink water before Shacharis, my father Shlit”a[10] is stringent in this area. This is based on the fact that according to some Rishonim there is a Torah prohibition to eat before Shacharis, and the Rambam[11] only allows one who is sick to drink before Shacharis, implying that under normal circumstances one may not drink water. Nevertheless, in order to avoid fasting on Shabbos one can drink water before davening.

While eating or drinking something can ensure that one doesn’t fast past midday, there is reason to actually begin the Shabbos meal prior to chatzos. The Rambam[12] implies that the Shabbos meal is to begin before chatzos. The Aruch Hashulchan (2) too is emphatic that one must start the Seudas Shabbos before chatzos.[13] Thus, if possible, it is proper to begin the Shabbos meal before midday; if that is not possible, one should recite Kiddush and eat prior to chatzos. [14] If that is not possible and one is unable to eat before midday, then it is proper to drink before Shacharis.

[1] 288:1

[2] D.h. Asur

[3] See Ohr Sameach Tannios 5:6 who explains the opinion of Avudraham that Asarah B’Teves is observed even on Shabbos, because one eats at night and fasting during the daytime hours is only Rabbinically forbidden.

[4] 157:1

[5] 288:2

[6] He notes that Rosh Hashanah is an exception, and the davening can extend past chatzos. If Rosh Hashanah falls out on Shabbos then there is some debate if davening should be shortened in order to eat before chatzos. See Am Mordechai Moed pg. 64

[7] 288:1

[8] This would be ideal because the Tur 289 assumes that there is no issue of drinking water prior to reciting Kiddush.

[9] 89:3. Interestingly, some Poskim question whether drinking is sufficient to avoid fasting, and they would require one to eat in order to avoid fasting, see Pri Megadim (E”A) 157:3.

[10] Am Mordechai Brachos 10:2

[11] Tefillah 5:2.

[12] Shabbos 30:9

[13] See Bach 334:2

[14] See Am Mordechai Shabbos pg. 273