Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah Archives | Rosh Yeshiva Responds

25 01, 2026

Kiddush: Wine or Grape Juice When Alcohol Is Not an Option or Not Preferred

January 25th, 2026|Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim, Shabbat, Shulchan Arukh|

QUESTION

Washington, DC

R’ Melamed (Peninei Halacha Shabbat 1:6:3, Shabbat 1:6:6) writes that kiddush ideally should be made with wine and that it is a mitzvah to share from the same cup with one’s wife. How should one balance those two values/mitzvot if one’s wife either doesn’t care for wine or doesn’t drink wine? Specifically, this arises when one’s wife is pregnant and not drinking alcohol.

ANSWER

Personally, I am makpid to use wine, particularly on Friday night. There is a real question, if we are talking objectively and setting aside

Starting Seder Earlier

28 03, 2025

Starting Seder Earlier

March 28th, 2025|Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Marriage and Family, Orach Chayim, Pesach, Uncategorized|

QUESTION

What is the earliest time for the first cup for the start of the seder?

ANSWER
It is common during the summertime to bring in Shabbat early and to make kiddush and have our Friday night meal before it gets dark. This is based on the principle of tosefet Shabbat, extending the sanctity of Shabbat into the day before. However, when it comes to Pesach, many Rishonim rule that matzah may not be eaten before it is full nightfall (tzeit hakokhavim) because of a number of verses that state that matzah and the korban pesach (Pesach

27 02, 2025

Afternoon Purim Se’udah Going into Shabbat Dinner (Poreis Mapah Umekadeish)

February 27th, 2025|Berakhot, Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim, Purim|

Download a printable version >

QUESTION

New York, NY

Can one have a Purim Seudah late in the day, and have it enter into the Shabbat meal? What special considerations are there if we want to do this in the shul as a community Purim/Shabbat dinner?

ANSWER

This definitely may be done. It is based on the principle poreis mapah umekadeish

20 12, 2023

At What Time Can One End Their Fast When the 10th of Tevet Falls on a Friday?

December 20th, 2023|Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim, Shabbat, Ta'anit/Fast Days|

QUESTION

Washington, DC

Do you have any specific guidelines for Asarah b’Tevet when it is observed on a Friday? How long after Shekiah should we wait to break the fast? If some members of a household remain home, can they break their fast before the whole family sits down for kiddush and Shabbat dinner?

16 01, 2023

Non-Jew Warming Fully Cooked, Dry food in an Oven on Shabbat For Kiddush

January 16th, 2023|Amirah LeGoy, Bishul, Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim, Prohibitions, Shabbat|

QUESTION

PHILADELPHIA, PA

Shalom Rav Linzer – what are your thoughts on a gentile putting dry food to warm in an oven for kiddush? I know it’s not usually done but it seems like a d’rabbanan l’tzorech rabim (rabbinic prohibition done for the sake of the community)? The venue my shul meets at (a conservative synagogue) feels that hot plates are a liability.

ANSWER

This is exactly the case dealt with in SA OH 253:5

18 07, 2021

Havdalah on Tisha b’Av By Someone Not Fasting

July 18th, 2021|Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim, Tisha B'Av - 3 Weeks|

QUESTION

Chicago, IL

If someone is not fasting for Tisha b’Av, should they make full Havdalah after Shabbat?

ANSWER

If a person is going to eat on Tisha b’Av because they are sick, they should make Havdalah before they eat, whether that be at night or the next day. It is a full Havdalah, except we don’t do besamim and we don’t say the pesukim before. So it is only the cup, borei me’orei (if making Havdalah Saturday night), and HaMavdil.

שערי תשובה סימן תקנו

עבה”ט וכ’ בר”י בשם תשו’ כנה”ג ח”ב חולה שאוכל בט”ב יבדיל תיכף במוצאי שבת והב”י שם דעתו נוטה קצת שיכול

13 07, 2021

Kiddush Without Mezonot

July 13th, 2021|Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim|

QUESTION

Midwest, USA

Shalom Rabbi Linzer, if one is making kiddush on Shabbat morning in shul after Shacharit for the kehilah but there will be no kiddush food afterwards, should kiddush still be made? If so, does the one making kiddush need to eat mezonot or can they just drink, make a berakhah acharonah and then go home and make/hear kiddush again over a proper meal? Our shul hasn’t yet brought kiddush back and someone suggested that the rabbi make kiddush in the sanctuary for those who won’t hear it at home and as a morale booster as we still slowly return to regular

6 03, 2021

Havdalah for Kids Before Tzeit

March 6th, 2021|Family, Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim|

QUESTION

New England, USA

For many of my families, day light savings time means that Havdalah will be later than their kids bed time. On one hand doing it Sunday morning seems halakhically fine but experientially strange. Could one do Havdalah without a candle and without Sheim HaShem before bed time so kids feel like Shabbat is ending?

ANSWER

Yes. See Shulchan Arukh OC 293:3. One can make Havdalah (without candle) from Plag on, when necessary. You won’t be saying the borei meorei ha’eish brakhah, obviously, and all other berakhot will be said normally. I do this regularly, since I wait 72 minutes for Shabbat to be

7 02, 2021

Lost Sense of Smell and Borei Minei Besamim

February 7th, 2021|Berakhot, Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim|

QUESTION

Brooklyn, NY

If someone lost their sense of smell from Covid related symptoms are they allowed to say borei minei besamim? What should they do if saying the Havdalah for others in their household?

ANSWER

No. My sense of smell – unrelated to COVID – has become quite poor, and I have someone else (my wife) make the berakhah. Even according to those opinions – which I don’t pasken like – that women are patur from Havdalah, this isn’t Havdalah (which is the final berakhah), it’s just a

29 10, 2020

Volume Needed for Shabbat Morning Kiddush

October 29th, 2020|Kiddush, Seudah, Havdalah, Orach Chayim|

QUESTION

New York, NY

When ones makes kiddush on Shabbat morning on scotch, is there a need for a revi’it? The minhag is to say it on a shot glass which is less, not sure what that opinion relies on.

ANSWER

100% there is a need for a revi’it. Even if it counts as chamar medinah, you still requires a revi’it. Some will argue that revi’it would be translated into what is the normal size for that liquid, be we have never ever seen such a thing elsewhere regarding a

12 Next

QUESTION

Washington, DC

Join our WhatsApp group

Topics