May one Use Grape Juice for Kiddush?

Yes. Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 272:2) writes that one may even squeeze a cluster of grapes (before Shabbos) and recite Kiddush on the juice. Some poskim (e.g. Minchas Shlomo I:4) write that reconstituted grape juice which is made from concentrate but is mostly water, may not be used for Kiddush. Rav Belsky, zt"l held that even reconstituted grape juice may be used. All OU grape juice that has printed on the bottles “Kosher for Kiddush” contains at least 51% single strength grape juice, and everyone would agree the bracha is Borei pri hagafen.

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.