One Who Speaks Before Drinking From the Kiddush Wine

When a person recites Kiddush on Friday night on behalf of everybody at the table, the listeners must have in mind to fulfill their obligation with his Brachot – the Bracha of "Gefen" over the wine, and the Bracha of Kiddush. By having this intention, they are considered as though they personally recited the Brachot. As we know, it is customary for the one who recites Kiddush to then pass the cup around the table so that everybody can drink from the Kiddush wine. It is forbidden for the people at the table to speak before they drink from the wine, just as one who recites a Bracha over any food or drink must not speak until eating or drinking. Since, as mentioned, one who listens to the Bracha is considered to have personally recited it, he must not speak until he drinks from the wine, just as the one who recited the Bracha may not speak before drinking. This applies not only on Friday night, but anytime a person fulfills his Bracha obligation over food or drink by listening to somebody else’s Bracha. If, for example, two people sit down for a drink together, and one decides to listen to his fellow’s Bracha rather than recite it himself, he may not speak after hearing the Bracha until he drinks. The question arises as to whether one must recite a Bracha if he spoke before drinking the Kiddush wine. It often happens that the people at the table forget the Halacha and speak after the recitation of Kiddush, before the wine reaches them. May they still rely on the Bracha they heard, or must they now recite a Bracha of their own? Most Rishonim, including the Rosh and the Mordechi held that one must indeed recite a Bracha in this case. According to this view, speaking in between the Bracha and drinking undermines the Bracha’s effect and thus requires the listener to recite his own Bracha. This appears to be the view accepted by the Bet Yosef. However, the Rama cites the view of the Roke’ah that one may still rely on the Bracha he heard, even if he spoke in the interim. According to this position, so long as the one who recited Kiddush partook of the wine without speaking in the interim, the others may rely on his Bracha even if they spoke. As for the final Halacha, we have a famous rule of "Safek Brachot Le’hakel," which means that we do not recite a Bracha if there is some question as to whether it is warranted. In the case under discussion, then, one may drink from the wine without reciting a Bracha. It must be emphasized, however, that this applies only "Be’di’abad," in a case where one mistakenly spoke; optimally, of course, one must ensure not to speak after the recitation of Kiddush until after he drinks from the wine.

In conclusion: After the recitation of Kiddush, the listeners must not speak until they partake of the wine. If, however, somebody did speak in the interim, he may drink without a Bracha, so long as the one who recited the Kiddush drank without speaking in the interim.

 By Rabbi Eli Mansour