Drinking coffee Shabbos after Shachris before Kriah without Kiddush

Question:

I daven a lot of times in a Gerer shteeble in my area.

Shabbos morning after Shacharis before Krias haTorah they have a hour break to learn, as is their minhag. They drink coffee then without kiddush, is this permitted? and may I do so too?

Answer:

Not permitted.

Explanation: The obligation of kiddush starts after Shacharis. Unless in desperate situations, one may not eat and drink before kiddush even by day.

The formal Gerrer custom is to have a “hafsaka” for learning only, and not for eating and drinking. The Imrei Emes wrote about this and allowed making kiddush to eat and drink only for weak people.

Some suggest that before Krias haTorah, one need not make kiddush. But this isn’t mainstream halacha.

Nonetheless, there is room for leniency, to drink water if necessary, based on multiple factors. Thus, one should not protest those who drink water and even coffee.

Sources:

שוע”ר רפ”ו סעיף ד’ ורפ”ט סעיף ב’.

המקילים – מחמת הדעות שמותר לשתות מים לפני קידוש, ושביום אין איסור טעימה, והדעות שאין חיוב קידוש לפני מוסף, ובפרט לפני קרה״ת. ובקפה – ה״ז חמר מדינה ויוצא קידוש. וראה זכור לקדשו לאבין ב ע׳ תקפט ואילך. וראה אצלנו 39161. ולהעיר מראש גולת אריאל ע׳ ריא.

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