Partaking of the Kiddush Wine
Kiddush is recited over a cup160 of wine or grape juice that contains a revi’is (3 fl. oz.). At least a “cheek full” (approximately 1.6 fl. oz.) must be drunk.161
There is no requirement for anyone other than the person who makes Kiddush to taste the wine. As long as the listener intends to fulfill the mitzvah of Kiddush and hears every word of the blessing, he fulfills the mitzvah. It is, however, desirable (a mitzvah min ha-muvchar) to partake of the wine from the Kiddush cup.162 For this reason, many people make certain to drink some wine or grape juice after listening to Kiddush. At a kiddush in shul, however, this may lead to a problematic dilemma regarding the correct berachah on any other beverage that will be drunk at the kiddush. Let us explain:
The berachah of borei pri ha-gafen automatically includes any beverage that is on the table or that will be brought to the table. Thus, no shehakol is recited on soda, juice, or other beverages that will be drunk at the kiddush.163 Even a person who did not actually recite borei peri ha-gafen but heard Kiddush from another person should not recite shehakol on other beverages if he drank a melo lugmav (“cheek full”) of wine or grape juice. If a person drank a quantity of wine or grape juice less than a melo lugmav, however, it is questionable164 if he should recite shehakol on other beverages. It follows, therefore, that those who listen to someone else’s Kiddush and partake of the wine must do one of the following in order to be allowed to drink other beverages:165
Drink at least 1.6 fl. oz. of wine or grape juice;
Recite shehakol on a food item;
Listen to shehakol recited by another person.
160. Some poskim advise against using a disposable cup for Kiddush (Igros Moshe, O.C. 3:39; Minchas Yitzchak 10:23; Rav C. Kanievksy, Ohel Chanoch, pg. 228), while others are not particular (Rav Y.S. Elyashiv, quoted in Ashrei ha-Ish, vol. 2, pg. 62; Tzitz Eliezer 12:23). See also Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 47, note 51, quoting Rav S.Z. Auerbach.
161. Based on the measurements of Rav M. Feinstein. A “cheek full” is a little more than half a revi’is.
162. O.C. 271:14. A minority view (Brisker Rav, quoted in Teshuvos v’Hanhagos 1:264) maintains that on Shabbos morning one must partake of the wine from the Kiddush cup in order to fulfill the mitzvah. The poskim, however do not agree with this stringency; see Ma’aseh Ish 5:91, quoting Chazon Ish; Chelkas Yaakov 3:180; Rav S.Z. Auerbach (Shemiras Shabbos K’hilchasah 50:9); Ashrei ha-Ish, vol. 2, pg. 83; Yechaveh Da’as 5:20.
163. O.C. 174:2. Note, however, that Rav Y.S. Elyashiv (Vezos ha-Berachah, pg. 267) and Rav S. Wosner (Deror Yikra, pg. 280) are quoted as ruling that only a borei peri ha-gafen recited over wine exempts all other beverages; when it is recited over grape juice, it does not exempt other beverages.
164. Derech ha-Chayim rules that it is sufficient, but Beiur Halachah 174:2, s.v. yayin, questions that. See Minchas Yitzchak 8:19 and Yechaveh Da’as 5:20.
165. Beiur Halachah 174:2, s.v yayin. [It is not sufficient to have specific intention for the berachah over the wine to cover only the wine itself and not other beverages; Rav Y.S. Elyashiv, quoted in Vezos ha-Berachah, pg. 100.]