Kiddush and Havdalah Over Coffee or Tea
Q. Can I make Kiddush or Havdalah on a cup of coffee or tea?
A. Shulchan Aruch (OC 182:2; 272:9; 289:2; 296:2) writes that if there is no wine available, one may recite Birchas Hamazon, Kiddush (see last paragraph for further clarification about kiddush) or Havdalah on a beverage that is prevalent in that location. This is known as Chamar Medinah (the local wine).
Do tea or coffee qualify?
Rav Ovadia Yosef (Yebia Omer 3:19 and Yechaveh Daas 2:38) cites some Acharonim who maintain that a beverage is only considered Chamar Medinah if it is intoxicating. Based on this, Rav Ovadia Yosef rules that one should not recite Havdalah on tea or coffee. Only alcoholic beverages such as beer are acceptable. This was also the opinion of Rav Chaim Volozhener.
The Rogotchover suggests that even if it is necessary for chamar medina to be intoxicating, milk can be considered an intoxicating beverage based on the Gemara (Kerisos 13b) that a cohen may not perform the avodah in the Beis Hamikdash after drinking milk. (Presumably, milk is intoxicating in the sense that it causes drowsiness and affects a person’s mental state.) However, Rav Y.D. Soloveichik (Mi’peninei Harav p. 87) rejects the comparison between avodah and chamar medinah. Milk invalidates a cohen for avodah because it causes drowsiness, while chamar medinah is limited to actual intoxication.
On the other hand, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 296:13), Igeros Moshe (OC 2:75) and Tzitz Eliezer (8:16) write that in the absence of wine, if one has no other choice, one may recite havdalah on coffee or tea. One may add milk to their tea or coffee, but it is not necessary. Igeros Moshe explains that these drinks are similar to wine because they are served to guests to demonstrate distinction or respect, and not only to quench one’s thirst.
The Shulchan Aruch (OC 279:9) writes that there are different opinions whether chamar medina may be used for Kiddush at night and during the day. The Mishnah Berurah (272:27) rules that Chamar Medinah may be used for Shabbos daytime kiddush, but should not be used for Friday night Kiddush, If wine is not available, Friday night Kiddush should be recited on challah.
______________________________________________________
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.