Eating and Drinking Before Kiddush on Friday night

Is it permissible to eat or drink anything before hearing kiddush Friday night? What about a sip of water?

Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 271:4) writes that from the time one accepts Shabbos until hearing Kiddush, it is forbidden to eat, drink, or even take a sip of water. However, Magen Avrohom permits rinsing out one’s mouth, since there is no intention to enjoy the water. Similarly, Minchas Yitzchok (8:18) writes that a woman who lit Shabbos candles and then wishes to swallow a medicine pill (a Rabbi should be consulted regarding taking pills on Shabbos), may do so with a sip of water if she is not thirsty (but not other drinks). For this same reason, one who sips water with a pill and is not thirsty should not recite a bracha, but a bracha would be recited on other drinks even if the person is not thirsty. The reason for these distinctions between water and other drinks is that water is enjoyable only when one is thirsty because it is tasteless. In contrast, other drinks are enjoyable because of their taste, even if one is not thirsty. (See Orach Chaim 204:7 and Mishna Berurah ibid 42)

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.