Eating Before Kiddush on Shabbos Morning
When does the איסור of טעימה before קידושא רבא begin on Shabbos morning?
The Gemara [1] indicates that once Shabbos begins one is not allowed to eat prior to reciting Kiddush. This prohibition is in place as a way of honoring Shabbos that the first food eaten is done לכבוד שבת. The Shulchan Aruch [2] codifies this and assumes that even water may not be drunk before Kiddush. This is all regarding the Friday night Kiddush. However, regarding קידושא רבא on Shabbos morning it is not as clear. The Rambam, [3] as well as the Rashbam, [4] believes that this prohibition applies on Shabbos morning as well. However, the Raavad, as well as the Rashba, [5] assumes that one may eat before reciting Kiddush on Shabbos morning. Similarly, the Maharam Chalavah [6] argues that Shabbos is sanctified by reciting Kiddush on Friday night, and the bracha of בורא פרי הגפן said on Shabbos morning is merely a way of honoring Shabbos and doesn’t carry the laws of Kiddush. He adds that that because this Kiddush is only a rabbinic obligation and thus the Gemara’s assertion נשים חייבות בקידוש היום applies only on Friday night and women are in fact not obligated in the Shabbos morning Kiddush. The Tur [7] attests that while his father, the Rosh, assumed the position of the Rambam, he did drink water before davening on Shabbos morning because the obligation to recite Kiddush only kicks in after davening. The Shulchan Aruch assumes this view. It emerges that the prohibition to eat before Kiddush only begins after davening, but ironically, no foods other than water are allowed before davening based on the Gemara [8] that לא תאכלו על הדם forbids one to eat before Shacharis.
May one eat after davening Shacharis prior to Mussaf? The Gemara [9] cites the view of Rav Huna, who forbids eating before davening Mussaf. While the Gemara states that the halacha does not follow Rav Huna, nevertheless, the Tur [10] cites the Gemara [11] that states that נשיאות כפים is performed during Shacharis and Mussaf but not afterwards due to the concern of drunkenness. Apparently, it is unacceptable to eat or drink before davening Mussaf. [12] The Shulchan Aruch [13] understands that this prohibits one from eating a large סעודת שבת before discharging the obligation to daven Mussaf. The Mishna Berura [14] writes that when eating a mini-meal before Mussaf, one is required to recite Kiddush, but he adds [15] that if one has no wine and is somewhat weak, he may eat after Shacharis prior to reciting Kiddush. This is based on the Elyah Rabbah, [16] who cites some who believe that the prohibition to eat before Kiddush only kicks in after Mussaf. While normally one should refrain from eating without Kiddush, in a situation where one needs to hydrate themselves or for a young bar mitzvah boy who feels it necessary to drink some water before laining, there is some more room for leniency because one has yet to daven Mussaf, coupled together with the opinion of the Raavad.[17]
These halachos may be somewhat different for women. While the Mishnah [18] is explicit that women are obligated to daven, and the Shulchan Aruch [19] codifies this, numerous poskim have noted that many women do not daven the complete Shemoneh Esrei. The Magen Avraham [20] writes that by offering a brief prayer in the morning they fulfill their obligation. [21] Based on this, some poskim assume that for those women who recite מודה אני as their davening, at that point they are obligated in Kiddush and can no longer drink even water, but a woman who normally davens Shacharis may drink water/coffee before Kiddush as the obligation to make Kiddush didn’t kick in. The Shemiras Shabbos K’Hilchoso [22] adds that if a woman is weak or is unable to make Kiddush, she may eat before Kiddush (See footnotes 46, 46). My father, shlit”a, takes a lenient stance on this issue to allow women to eat before davening irrespective of their custom regarding Shacharis davening.
[1] Pesachim 106b
[2] 271:4
[3] Shabbos 29:10
[4] Pesachim 105a
[5] Teshuvos 7:529
[6] Pesachim 106a
[7] 289
[8] Brachos 10b
[9] Brachos 28b
[10] 286
[11] Taanis 26b
[12] See glosses of Maharalach on Tur
[13] 286:3
[14] 286:7
[15] 286:9
[16] 286:9
[17] See also Beis Yosef 271:4 who cites the maggid Mishnah (Shabbos 29:5) who understands the Rambam as allowing water prior to making Kiddush.
[18] Brachos 20b
[19] 106:2
[20] 106:2. See Reshimos Shiurim (Brachos 20b) who cites from R’ Chaim Soloveitchik who understood from the Rambam that women must daven a complete Shemonah Esrei.
[21] See Mishna Berurah 4
[22] 52:13, see footnote 46