The Cup for Bentching at Shalosh Seudos

If at shul we say Birchas Hamazon with a kos but do not say havdalla – can we pour the grape juice straight back into the bottle?

The gemara^[1] delineates multiple halachos regarding כוס, one being that ברכת המזון requires a כוס. The Levush^[2] explains that it is honorable and proper to have a כוס when praising Hashem while reciting ברכת המזון. Multiple opinions are cited by Tosfos regarding the scope of this halacha and the Rema[3] writes that ideally one should use a כוס, and the Aruch Hashulchan^[4] writes that it is customary to use a cup of wine on Shabbos and Yom Tov.^[5] Many have the custom of ברכת המזון על הכוס when there is a minyan, and so is the custom in many Shuls during Shalosh Seudos.[6]

In normal circumstances, after concluding ברכת המזון the מזמן drinks the wine, and if that is impossible others present should drink.[7] However, סעודה שלישית may be somewhat different. For although the Shulchan Aruch[8] writes that when reciting ברכת המזון על הייןat סעודה שלישית one can drink the wine prior to Havdalah, the Magen Avraham[9] writes that if one doesn’t usually recite ברכת המזון with a cup, then the wine cannot be consumed before הבדלה. This Psak is recorded by the Mishnah Berurah.[10]

In accordance with the Psak of the Mishnah Berurah, it is best to save the wine and then use it for Havdalah. This is the custom in many Shuls where they recite ברכת המזון על הכוס [11]. However, it is improper to use the cup for ברכת המזון and then pour the wine back in the bottle without drinking it. After all, the כוס של ברכה is desirable only because it is consumed after the bracha.[12] Nevertheless, R’ Binyamin Zilber[13] writes that there is no halachic issue if one pours the wine back into the bottle, but he sees no value of reciting ברכת המזון with a cup if it is not consumed.[14] Thus, it seems that the ideal approach is to use the wine from ברכת המזון for Havdalah recited in Shul.[15] If the Shul has the custom not to recite Havdalah in Shul,[16] it is probably best to recite ברכת המזון without a cup of wine altogether.

[1] Pesachim 105b.

[2] 182.

[3] 182:1.

[4] 182:1.

[5] See Iggros Moshe Y”D 3:52:3, who writes that while according to many Rishonim it is proper to have a cup of wine, being that for many years wine wasn’t readily available it has become customary to skip the cup and that custom can be maintained.

[6] See Bentching after Shalosh Seudos Sheva Brachos.

[7] Shulchan Aruch 190:1.

[8] 299:4.

[9] 299:7.

[10] 14.

[11] See Shemiras Shabbos 59 footnote 61.

[12] Shulchan Aruch Harav 190:2. He explains that by reciting a bracha with a cup of wine and subsequently drinking the wine it is akin to the songs that are sung together with the wine libations upon the Mizbeach. See Eiruvin 40b. See however Teshuvos Shevet Halevi 10:242:3.

[13] Az Nidberu 10:22.

[14] There is however no concern of כוס פגום because nobody drank wine from the cup. See Brachos 52a, Shulchan Aruch 182:3.

[15] See Shulchan Aruch 295:1.

[16] See Shulchan Aruch 296:7.