Hand Sanitizer

Q. I have heard that one should not use a hand sanitizer that contains alcohol because the alcohol may be wine-derived, and non-kosher wine is assur bihan’ah (deriving benefit is forbidden). Is this true?

A. There is a Biblical prohibition to derive pleasure from wine that was used in an idolatrous service. Such wine is known as Yayin Nesech. In addition, there is a Talmudic prohibition to derive pleasure from any wine that was handled by an aino Yehudi. Since idol worship was common at that time, it was likely the wine was used for idolatrous purposes. This type of wine is known as Stam Yainom. Later poskim dispute whether the Talmudic prohibition of deriving pleasure from wine applies today when it is uncommon to serve idols by pouring wine. Some say that the Rabbinic decree stands, while others maintain it was only enacted for times when this type of idol worship was prevalent. The Shulchan Aruch (YD 123:1) adopts the stringent opinion, and this is followed by Sefardim. In contrast, the Ashkenazim follow the opinion of the Rema (YD 123:1) who follows the lenient opinion bidieved (after the fact) in cases of financial loss. Thus, if one received an expensive non-kosher bottle of wine as payment, it may be sold (rather than discarded), but one may not purchase such wine for resale.

Regarding the original question, if one knew for certain that non-kosher wine alcohol was used in the hand sanitizer, it would be forbidden for Sefardim to use, and even Ashkenazim would not be allowed to purchase such brands. Nonetheless, since the overwhelming majority of alcohol sold in the market is not wine alcohol, and there is no way to determine the source, it may be assumed that the hand sanitizer was not made with wine alcohol, and it may be purchased and used.

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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.