Q. If the available davening is late and the seuda will be close to chatzos or after, can one eat fruit, yogurt or cheese before davening?
A. On question 1202 we wrote: "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."
However, Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that eating fruit, yogurt or cheese before davening is not permitted, unless it is required for medical reasons.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Important Numbers
