Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach’s Surprising Ruling

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Teshuvot Minchat Shlomo 1:4) issues an unexpected ruling regarding grape juice made from concentrate. Rav Shlomo Zalman writes that making grape juice from concentrate first involves evaporating the juice’s water, leaving a highly concentrated form. The concentrate is stored, and when it is time to bottle the grape juice, a quantity of water four times the amount of the grape juice concentrate is added to reconstitute it. Rav Shlomo Zalman suggests that one should recite Shehakol (rather than Borei Pri HaGafen) on the resulting product since it is considered grape juice-flavored water, not grape juice.

Rav Shlomo Zalman finds no compelling reason to say that the water added to grape juice concentrate, which constitutes 80% of the product, should attain wine status. Moreover, Rav Shlomo Zalman argues that fundamentally we should not recite the bracha of Borei Pri HaGafen even on grape juice. We do say this bracha on grape juice because of its potential to become wine, as stated by the Rashbam (Bava Batra 97b s.v. Yayin Koses). Grape juice concentrate does not enjoy such potential. Rav Shlomo Zalman reasons that only that which emerged from the grape has wine status and not the water added to the grape juice concentrate.

Rav Shlomo Zalman concedes that there is an argument for reciting Borei Pri HaGafen on grape juice made from concentrate. The fact that this product tastes like grape juice can justify the recitation of Borei Pri HaGafen, based on the Magen Avraham (204:16). Also, in determining the bracha on a mixed product, we recite a bracha on the more important ingredient, even though the other component may constitute a majority of the product (Mishnah Berurah 212:1). Thus, Rav Shlomo Zalman concludes that it is possible to recite Borei Pri HaGafen on grape juice from concentrate, even though the water added to the grape juice concentrate retains the status of water.

Kiddush on Grape Juice From Concentrate

Rav Shlomo Zalman believes that we cannot use grape juice from concentrate for Kiddush. He refers to the dispute that rages amongst the Rishonim regarding the permissibility of yayin mevushal (cooked wine) for Kiddush. Rav Shlomo Zalman argues that even the Rishonim who find yayin mevushal acceptable for Kiddush would agree that grape juice from concentrate is unacceptable for Kiddush. They validate yayin mevushal only because they believe that cooking the wine enhances it (see Rosh, Bava Batra 6:10).

However, when the grape juice is reduced to concentrate, it is disqualified for Kiddush. Rav Shlomo Zalman argues that the grape juice’s acceptability for Kiddush is not restored after the water has been added to it since its quality is somewhat downgraded by the process involved in evaporating the water from the original grape juice. He believes that its disqualification from use for Kiddush is permanent. One could respond that since the grape juice quality reduction is subtle, it is not halachically relevant.

Criticism of Rav Shlomo Zalman’s Ruling

Most poskim, however, believe that concentrated food regains its earlier status when reconstituted. For example, the Chazon Ish (Yoreh Deah 41:4; in contrast with Teshuvot Har Zvi Yoreh Deah 103-104) rules that powdered milk is considered milk even when reconstituted (the Chazon Ish writes in the context of the prohibition of chalav akum). Although he once ruled otherwise, Rav Moshe Feinstein’s (cited by the OU’s Daf HaKashrus 23:7) conclusion is that the bracha on Pringles, made from reconstituted potatoes, is HaAdamah.

At an OU conference on wine and grape juice held in the early 2000s, Rav Yisroel Belsky reports that when informed of Rav Shlomo Zalman’s ruling, Rav Yosef Shalom Eliashiv responded that there is an explicit Talmudic passage that contradicts this ruling. However, it is unclear to which Talmudic passage Rav Eliashiv alluded.

Rav Belsky stated that Shabbat 77a, as explained by Tosafot, constitutes similar proof that wine whose water has been removed has its original status restored when reconstituted. I believe Rav Belsky refers to s.v. VeOd, where Tosafot state that coagulated wine is even suitable for a kos shel bracha, ritual purposes. Rav Shlomo Zalman anticipates this argument and distinguishes between coagulated wine, whose original status is restored when reconstituted, and grape juice concentrate, whose original standing cannot be similarly restored.

Rav Belsky responds that since the Gemara believes that coagulated wine is restored to its original status when reconstituted, most certainly grape juice concentrate, which has not changed its original form, should be restored to its position when reconstituted.

Conclusion

Rav Belsky rules that one may rely on the many poskim who find reconstituted grape juice acceptable for Kiddush. However, Yalkut Yosef (Orach Chaim 472:23) said that lechatchila one should not use reconstituted grape juice for the Arba Kosot. He does rule, though, that one who relies on the lenient opinion has legitimate halachic support for his action.

Rabbi Haim Jachter is the spiritual leader of Congregation Shaarei Orah, the Sephardic Congregation of Teaneck. He also serves as a rebbe at Torah Academy of Bergen County and a dayan on the Beth Din of Elizabeth.