May I Sell An Expensive Bottle of Non-Kosher Wine?

I was given an expensive bottle of non-kosher wine by my boss. Can I sell it online?

In this case the halacha would depend on whether one is a Sefardi or an Ashkenazi.

Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh De’ah 123:1) rules that it is forbidden to derive any benefit from stam yainum (non-kosher wine). Therefore, if the bottle of wine was given to a Sefardi, who follows the Shulchan Aruch, he must dispose of it. He would not be permitted to sell the bottle of wine, or even to give it away as a gift. This is because even the goodwill that is generated through giving a gift is considered a benefit.

However, Rama writes that in a situation of loss, such as if one needs to collect a debt and the non-Jewish borrower only has barrels of non-kosher wine, one may take the barrels as payment. The Jewish creditor may then sell the wine to a non-Jew. Ashkenazim follow this view. Similarly, in our case, since the employer is presenting you with a bottle of wine, and is not offering a choice of gifts, you are permitted to accept the bottle of wine and then to sell it. However, Chachmos Adam (75:14) writes that one who is careful not to derive any benefit from stam yainum will be successful.

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.