Bava Batra 93-99; Issue #48
12-18 Tamuz, 5762 / June 22-28

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Uncovered Wine

"You left the wine uncovered! What will I make kiddush on?"

"Don't get alarmed! It was only uncovered for a few minutes."

This scenario of an almost domestic crisis with a happy ending revolves around a passage in Malachi (1:8) in which the prophet admonishes his people for insulting Hashem and His altar by offering as sacrifices animals which are blind, lame or sick.

"Offer them to your potentate," he tells them," and see if he will be pleased with them to forgive your wrongdoing or if you will find favor with such a gift."

Although this particular passage deals with offering blemished animals as sacrifices, it is extended as well to quality of wine offered as a libation on the altar and which is used for making kiddush on Shabbat.

Uncovered wine in the days of the gemara had a different problem connected with it which affected not only making kiddush over it but drinking it altogether. The prevalence of poisonous snakes which were likely to inject their venom into liquids from which they sipped caused the Sages to decree a ban on drinking liquids which were exposed and unsupervised enough time for a snake to do its deadly work. But that problem could have been taken care of, according to Rabbi Nechemia, by straining the wine, since the venom would remain on top. Even so, Rabbi Nechemia agreed that this uncovered wine would be disqualified for kiddush because it was unfit for presentation even to an earthly potentate.

In our days we need not rely on Rabbi Nechemia's lenient opinion because it is the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah 116:1) that the absence of poisonous snakes in our midst renders the rabbinical decree regarding exposed liquids inapplicable to us. Nevertheless, exposed wine loses its original taste and fragrance and is unfit for kiddush because it is unfit as a gift to an earthly ruler. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 272:1) Later halachic authorities, beginning with Magen Avraham, point out that this applies only if the wine has been exposed long enough for it to lose taste and fragrance. If the exposure is only for a brief period no significant deterioration takes place. It would still find favor with the potentate and is kosher for kiddush.

Bava Batra 97b

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Too Quick On The Draw

"One who answers before he has heard is considered foolish and will come to shame." (Mishlei 18:13)

This passage is cited as corroboration for what was quoted by the gemara from the Book of Ben Sira about a person who answers before properly hearing the question being considered of the lowest character.

What is it, however, that causes one to have that overdose of self-confidence that he is capable of quickly replying without even hearing the question fully expressed?

Maharsha explains that the passage refers to the person who once succeeded in giving a quick answer and luckily succeeded in giving the correct reply. Rather than attribute his success to blind luck, he becomes convinced that it was the result of his great wisdom and that he will continue to enjoy success in responding to questioners without really hearing them out.

King Solomon, the truly wise man, warns this fellow that he is seriously wrong in his analysis of his success that one time. It is foolish for him to interpret that as a sign of wisdom rather than blind luck. But what is even worse is that his attempt to repeat this success will only lead him to shame. Since one cannot really answer properly without carefully listening to the question, the hasty answers he will give as a result of his overconfidence will be foolish and will only bring him shame.

Bava Batra 98b

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