#5993 – Yes - Yes, to the No - No Juice?
Dear Rav. Our family has a very old tradition that during the Nine Days, since during the weekdays wine is prohibited, on Shabbat, they offer and drink a much better and more expensive wine than usual. This is done in order that it should be an announcement and convocation that this Shabbat will be the beginning of the Geula soon to come for all of us.
My question is that since we offer a far greater wine than usual, is there a special blessing that should be said.
This same Shaila would apply in other Yamim Tovim, when we receive as a gift from guests very special and expensive wines.
On question 504 we wrote - Q. L’kavod Harav. I recently learned the Halachos of reciting the bracha of Hatov V’Hameitiv. (The One who is good and grants goodness to others) on a different wines served during a seudah. Yet, I have never seen people reciting this bracha, even when all the conditions actually apply.
I am aware that the Minchas Yitzchak (IX, 14) has a Teshuva on it. Is this what people rely on? Should I actually recite this unusual bracha?
To what we added and answered: A. Piskei Teshuvos (175: 1) quoting the Minchas Yitzchok mentioned and a similar question in Kaf Hachaim (175: 11) explains that since so many details have to be complied with for being able to recite this bracha, (see Mishna Berura ibid.), and they are not likely to be met, people avoid reciting this blessing.
Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a agrees and adds, that since the bracha of “Hatov V’hameitiv” will be recited at birchas hamazon, one should rather choose the better new wine for the kos of birchas hamazon, and it will cover the sofek and the doubtful brocho on the new wine. (See Beis Halevi on the Torah at the end of Chumash Bereshis, that rules that the hatov vehameitiv of birchas hamazon, exempts all wines of the seuda).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Y. Hirshman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu, Horav Kalman Ochs, and Horav Dovid Bartfeld consulting, Horav Hagaon Rav Yitzchak Berkowitz Shlit’a
Answered by: Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Published: July 11, 2026