Making Kiddush Before Davening

My doctor has instructed me that I must eat first thing every morning. Should I make kiddush before eating?

The Mishnah Berura (Bi’ur Halacha siman 289) writes that one who is required to eat before davening, should say Kiddush first. However, one should use grape juice for Kiddush, since one may not drink alcoholic drinks before they daven (see Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 99:1). However, other poskim write that it is not necessary to recite Kiddush, since the obligation to say Kiddush only begins after one davens (see Piskei Teshuvos 289:15). Kaf Ha’chaim (289:15) points out that if one does recite Kiddush before davening, he should make sure to recite Kiddush again after davening. This is because according to many opinions, one cannot fulfill the obligation to recite Kiddush until after davening.

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.