QUESTION: I had a half-used bottle of non-mevushal wine on the table. The bottle was reclosed with the cap (or cork). The cleaning help cleared off the table and carried the bottle into the kitchen. Can I still drink this wine?

ANSWER: Yes. Although the bottle was not sealed, it was closed. There is no concern of a nochri moving a closed bottle of wine, so long as there were people around who could have seen if the bottle was opened and poured. Even if she swished the bottle around as she walked, this does not constitute pouring, so long as the bottle was closed. The Gemara (Avoda Zara 60a) states in the name of Rav Ashi, a leather pouch of non-mevushal wine may be carried by a nochri, even if it is only half full (and its contents can be swished around), because this is not considered the way a nochri would pour libations to avodah zorah. However, if everyone left the house, and the cleaning help was left unattended, and she knew that no one was returning for a long enough duration that she could safely pour herself some wine without fear of being caught, then the wine would become forbidden. Wine without any seals may not be left unattended with a nochri.

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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.