Q. One sees that the Mussaf prayer on Shabbos will be delayed and one will only get home/ have the opportunity to make Kiddush when it will be after chatzos (if one davens with the minyan), and one has not had anything to drink that day yet.
I would like to know the rav's opinion: Should one leave the shul, make Kiddush and eat something, and only then daven Mussaf – even without a minyan – since one is not allowed to fast past chatzos? (which at this time of year is as early as 11:39 in New York). Or should he remain in shul for Mussaf and miss chatzos, since some poskim opine that the six hours start from when you wake up, and some say that one is allowed to fast past chatzos if he is involved in davening or learning, even though we don't pasken like those views, to the best of my knowledge?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that you can drink coffee or tea before davening and avoid fasting. Although Mishna Berura (89: 22) maintains that these beverages should be drunk without milk or sugar, many Poskim permit and the Rov agrees with them when in need. Maharsham Daas Torah 89: 3, Aruch Hashulchan 89:23, and Kaf Hachaim 89:31 Ishei Yisrael 13:25, Piskei Teshuvos 89:17, Sheorim Metsuyim BeHalacha 8:1, and others, mention that the minhag is to have coffee or tea even with sugar or milk before the tefila because it enables one to daven with more kavana, and is not an act of arrogance.
He also suggested that one may bring to shul a small bottle of grape juice and some mezonos and privately and speedily recite kiddush after shacharis.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
Important Numbers
