Am I allowed to drink wine from an open bottle (cap not on) that a non-Jew touched, if the wine is cooked?
Non-Jew Touching an Open Bottle of Cooked Wine
Question
Answer
Cooked wine is fine.
Sources
The Shulchan Aruch rules plainly that “our cooked wine that was touched by a non-Jew is permitted,” and defines cooked as wine that has been boiled on the fire. The Rambam explains why. The Sages’ decree on wine touched by a non-Jew covers only wine fit to be poured on the altar. So cooked wine of a Jew that a non-Jew touched is not forbidden, and one may even drink it together with him from one cup. The Gemara is the source: Rabba and Rav Yosef say that cooked wine is not subject to the prohibition of libation. Shmuel likewise told Avlet, “cooked wine is not subject to yayin nesech.”
- Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De’ah 123:3 — our cooked wine that a non-Jew touched is permitted; it counts as cooked once it has boiled on the fire
- Rambam Hilchot Ma’achalot Assurot 11:9 — cooked wine of a Jew that a non-Jew touched is not forbidden, and one may drink it with him from one cup
- Gemara Avodah Zarah 30a — cooked wine is not subject to the prohibition of libation (yayin nesech)
Author
Rabbi Shay Tahan
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