5787/2026
Melo Lugmav
Pesachim 107a teaches that if a Melo Lugmav (a cheek full) of wine is not drunk from the Kiddush cup, one has not fulfilled his obligation. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 271:13) codifies this Gemara with commentaries expressing no dissent. The Shulchan Aruch clarifies that a Melo Lugmav is a majority of a Revi’it.
The equivalence of Revi’it in ounces is debated: Rav Avraham Chaim Na’eh and Rav Ovadia Yosef say it is 3.0 ounces; Rav Moshe Feinstein is cited as saying it is 4.42 ounces for Friday night and 3.3 ounces for Shabbat day; and the Chazon Ish insists it is 5.3 ounces.
Who Drinks the Melo Lugmav?
The early Talmudic commentators argue as to who must drink the Melo Lugmav. The Ge’onim (cited in the Tur, Orach Chaim 271) adopt the strictest and most straightforward opinion: one who makes Kiddush must drink the Melo Lugmav. The Rosh (also cited by the Tur) disagrees and believes that it is acceptable if another meal participant has the Melo Lugmav. Tosafot (cited by the Ritva, Eruvin 79b s.v. Ha D’Amrinan) are the most lenient, ruling that several participants may combine their drinking as long as they drink at least a combined Melo Lugmav.
Tosafot, though, require that the combined Melo Lugmav must be consumed in the timeframe of Kdei Achilat Pras (Mishnah Berurah 271:73). This term refers to the time it takes to eat either three or four eggs. For this purpose, we define Kdei Achilat Pras as between three and four minutes (Aruch Hashulchan Orach Chaim 202:8). Rav Ovadia Yosef (Teshuvot Yabia Omer 9 Orach Chaim 108) rules that B’dieved (acceptable, but less than ideal) up to seven and a half minutes counts as Kdei Achilat Pras in this context.
The Shulchan Aruch, Mishnah Berurah, and Rav Ovadia Yosef
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 271:14) cites all three opinions. He presents the Rosh as the primary view, Tosafot as the secondary view, and the Ge’onim as being proper (but not required) to satisfy. The Mishnah Berurah (271:73) cites many Acharonim who B’di’eved accept Tosafot’s definition. However, Rav Ovadia Yosef (Chazon Ovadia, Shabbat 2: Hilchot Kiddush, footnote 18) rules that the Halacha follows the Rosh, the Shulchan Aruch’s primary view.
Conclusion – A Katan’s Drinking
The Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata (48:14) rules that even a Katan’s (minor’s) drinking can combine to the required combined Melo Lugmav. He clarifies that he speaks only of a Katan who is of Chinuch age, i.e., capable of learning (approximately age six).
It seems preferable to use grape juice if one cannot tolerate a Melo Lugmav of wine. It seems preferable to use grape juice to enable satisfying the Geonim’s view for the one making Kiddush who drinks the Melo Lugmav, rather than using wine and following either the Rosh or Tosafot’s leniencies.
In a dire situation, where one only has hard liquor to make Shabbat morning Kiddush, a Revi’it should be poured and a Melo Lugmav distributed amongst those present to drink a combined Melo Lugmav.
Rav Ovadia notes that the overwhelming consensus, including the Mishnah Berurah (272:30)