Eating or Drinking Before Kiddush

As a general rule, it is forbidden to eat or drink once Shabbat has begun, until one recites or hears kiddush.[1] It is also forbidden to eat or drink before kiddush is recited once one has accepted Shabbat, either by lighting the Shabbat candles or davening ma'ariv.[2] This is true even if one had accepted Shabbat quite some time before sunset.[3] It is, however, permitted for one to brush one's teeth or otherwise wash out one's mouth before kiddush.[4] So too, even if one was in the middle of a meal as Shabbat had entered one would be required to stop eating and recite kiddush before continuing with one's meal. This often happens on a Purim which falls out on a Friday if one's Purim feast was to extend into Shabbat.[5]

In the event that one who accepts Shabbat rather early and then becomes exceedingly hungry or thirsty some time later is permitted to go ahead and recite kiddush in order to be able to eat or drink. This is true even though one had not yet davened ma'ariv and will not be doing so for quite some time.[6] If one is simply unable to recite kiddush at this time, there are authorities who permit one to eat or drink in cases of extreme discomfort, without reciting kiddush, if it still before dark.[7] A woman who is about to light candles but wishes to eat after doing so should make a declaration that she is lighting candles on condition that she be permitted to eat after her candle lighting.[8] Children are allowed to eat before kiddush.[9]

There seems to be greater room for leniency for women with regards to eating or drinking before kiddush. This is because women are generally dependent upon their husbands to return from the synagogue to recite kiddush for them. As such, a woman who feels the need to take a drink of water or other beverage before her husband is ready to recite kiddush would be permitted to do so as long as it is before dark.[10] It is interesting to note that there were Rebbes who would fulfill the mitzva of tasting the Shabbat food and otherwise eat or drink even if it was past sunset on Friday night before having recited kiddush.[11]

It is also permissible for one to swallow a pill with water before Kiddush. This is because one's intention for the accompanying water is merely in order to assist in swallowing the pill.[12] If one foresees that one will be unable to recite kiddush due to the unavailability of wine or bread one would be permitted to eat without first reciting kiddush.[13] The nighttime kiddush of Yom Tov is a rabbinical mitzva, and as such, there is additional room for leniency in a case of need. In fact, there were great Rebbes who were known for having a glass of tea as Yom Tov had entered and would continue drinking up until dark.[14]

The kiddush of Shabbat day is generally treated more leniently than the kiddush of Friday night. This is because according to most authorities the Shabbat day kiddush is a rabbinical institution, and as such, maintains a lesser standing.[15] Although eating a meal before kiddush on Shabbat day is also forbidden,[16] there is greater room for leniency for those who feel the need to eat or drink before kiddush. It is interesting to note that the recitation of the "vayechulu" in the Friday night kiddush is a custom rather than an obligation.[17] It is only the "mekadesh hashabbat" blessing which must truly be recited in order to discharge one's obligation of Kiddush Friday night.[18]

It is also interesting to note that the obligation to recite kiddush on Shabbat day only comes into effect after one has davened shacharit.[19] Therefore, one who feels the need to eat or drink before davening Shabbat morning would not be required to recite kiddush.[20] Women who have davened shacharit or otherwise recited the order of prayers that they are accustomed to reciting each day should make kiddush after having done so before they eat.[21] There are other authorities who rule that eating before kiddush is only prohibited once one has davened mussaf. Therefore, according to this view, those who are feeling weak or thirsty before mussaf would be permitted to partake of something light without having to recite kiddush.[22]

There is also a minority view that women are actually exempt from the Shabbat day kiddush altogether. As such, in a case of great need a woman may be permitted to eat before actually reciting or hearing kiddush on Shabbat day.[23] Some authorities hold that a woman whose husband has not yet davened, and therefore has no obligation to recite kiddush himself, is permitted to eat before making kiddush even if she herself has already davened or otherwise accepted Shabbat.[24]

[1] O.C. 271:4

[2] Rambam Shabbat 29:10, O.C. 271:4,5, Aruch Hashulchan O.C. 271:12

[3] Kaf Hachaim O.C. 271:21

[4] Be'er Heitev 271:4, Kaf Hachaim O.C. 271:19, Mishna Berura 271:13

[5] O.C. 271:5, Kaf Hachaim 271:26

[6] Be'er Heitev O.C. 271:4, Kaf Hachaim O.C. 271:22

[7] Minchat Elazar 1:33

[8] Rema O.C. 263:10

[9] Mishna Berura 269:1

[10] Piskei Teshuvot 271:3

[11] Minchat Elazar 1:33, 2:11

[12] Shraga Hameir 6:124

[13] Mishna Berura 289:10

[14] Nitei Gavriel;Yom Tov 2:29

[15] Kaf Hachaim 289:7

[16] O.C. 289:1, Rambam Shabbat 29:10

[17] Rambam Shabbat 29:7

[18] Rambam Shabbat 29:2

[19] Mishna Berura 287:7

[20] O.C. 289:1, Igrot Moshe 2:26

[21] Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchata 52:13

[22] O.C. 286:3, Mishna Berura 286:9, Minhagei Eretz Yisrael (Gallis) 20:49

[23] Minchat Yitzchak 3:28

[24] Igrot Moshe O.C. 4:101