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Halachos of Pesach Part 2
By Rabbi Yochanan Eskenazi
Chazal enacted one must drink four cups of wine, to symbolize that we are free men (Gemara Pesachim 117b). Even if one does not personally enjoy drinking wine, is required to drink (Shulchan Aruch 472:10). Rashi [Pesachim 99b s.v. arbeh] explains the reason why Chazal enacted specifically four cups is to correspond to the four languages of geulah (redemption) that Hashem promised the Jewish people while they were still slaves [see Shemos 6:6-7].
The mitzvah is incumbent on both men and women (Shulchan Aruch 472:14). Children, who have reached the age of chinuch, are required to drink (Shulchan Aruch 472:15). The obligation is even on a poor person. If he does not have money to purchase wine, he must sell the clothing off to pay for wine (Shulchan Aruch 472:13 & Mishneh Berurah 472:42).
Someone who dislikes wine so much and cannot force himself to drink, can fulfill his obligation with grape juice or chamar medina (Mishneh Berurah 472:37). Someone who becomes bedridden from drinking wine is not obligated (Mishneh Berurah 472:35), because this is not derech cheirus (Shaar Hatziyon 472:52).
Each cup must be present as we perform a mitzvah [Kiddush, reciting the Haggadah, BirchasHamazon & Hallel] and are drunk after the completion of each mitzvah. If a person drank all four cups consecutively, one has not fulfilled his obligation and is required to drink additional cups in their respective place (Shulchan Aruch 472:8).
It is a mitzvah to drink red wine at the Seder (Shulchan Aruch 472:11), unless white wine is better (Rama ibid). If one uses white wine, it is preferable to add red wine to it, in order that it appears red. One should not add red food coloring [or any other red item other than red wine] (Halichos Shlomo 9:divrei halachah 10 & Koveitz Halachos 20:2-3). Additionally, it is preferable not to use yayin mevushal (cooked one), unless it is of better quality (Shulchan Aruch 472:12 & Mishneh Berurah 472:39).
The Gemara [Pesachim 108b] teaches that the wine that should be used for the daled kosos should appear and taste like wine. According to some Poskim this teaches that in order to fulfill his obligation to drink wine which is derech cheirus (way of freedom) it must have alcoholic content (Halachos of Pesach pg. 222 quoting Harav Moshe Feinstein, zt"l). According to this opinion, if one finds it difficult to drink wine, may dilute wine with grape juice, as long as one can still taste the alcohol (Rabbi Shimon Eider, zt"l). The opinion of Harav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt"l, is that one may use non-alcoholic wine [e.g. grape juice] for daled kosos (Halichos Shlomo 9:11).
Each cup should contain atleast a revius of wine. The measurement of revius, according to the Chazon Ish is 5.07 fl. oz., the Chafetz Chaim is approximately 4 fl. oz., and according to Harav Moshe Feinstein, zt"l is 4.42 fl. oz. for mitzvos me'deoraisa and 3.3 fl. oz. for mitzvosme'derabban (Halachos of Pesach pg. 228-229).
One is not required to drink the whole cup, but is preferable to do so. There is a dispute how much is must drink to fulfill his obligation. One opinion holds, he must drink most of the cup. A second opinion argues that it suffices to drink most of a revius (Shulchan Aruch 472:9). If one is not drinking the whole cup, one should try to drink most of it. Therefore, one should try to use a smaller cup [close to the measurement of a revius] to make it as easy as possible to drink the entire cup (Mishneh Berurah 472:33). It is important to note, that one must drink an entire revius by the fourth cup, since one is reciting a brachah achronah which may not be reciting if one drank less than a revius (Mishneh Berurah 472:30).
One should preferably drink the entire cup without any pausing (Rama 472:9). B'dieved, as long as one drank the entire cup within the shiur of kedei achilas pras [9 minutes] one has fulfilled his obligation (Mishneh Berurah 472:34). Additionally, one must recline while drinking the daled kosos (Shulchan Aruch 472:7).
It is preferable for someone other than the head of the house to fill up the head of the household's daled kosos, since it appears like derech cheirus (Rama 473:1). Many have the custom that everyone present does not pour their own cup (Koveitz Halachos 20:34).
It is preferable to use a nice cup for daled kosos (Koveitz Halachos 20:15 based on Shulchan Aruch 472:2). If one can one should use a silver cup (Kaf Hachaim 472:11). Be'dieved, one fulfills the mitzvah with any cup.
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