Articles

By Rabbi Dovid Cohen, Administrative Rabbinic Coordinator

Q. From a kashrus perspective, in what ways are grapes different than other fruits?

A. The most important feature of grapes is that the juice that comes out of them has special halachic status.  Grape juice (and wine) are the preferred beverage for kiddush, havdalah, and other special occasions, and a special bracha is recited before and after drinking it (hagafen before, and al hagefen afterwards).  [There is also bracha acharonah recited after eating grapes or any of the other 7 special fruits for which the Torah praises Eretz Yisroel.]  Two other bracha-related features of grape juice (and wine) are: (a) a person who recites hamotzi for bread does not have to recite a bracha before other foods eaten at that meal, except for grape juice, and (b) a person who recites hagafen before drinking a cup of grape juice or wine, does not have to recite a bracha before drinking any other beverage at that meal.

Turning to kashrus, grape juice (and wine) have a unique status that if they are touched or moved by someone who is not Jewish, they become forbidden as stam yayin.  This is very relevant for people who have non-Jews visiting or working in their homes.  One important exception to this is that after the juice is “mevushal” (cooked/heated to a specific temperature), it can no longer become stam yayin, and in fact, most grape juices and wines available on the market are mevushal.  However, there are certain brands and varieties which are not mevushal, and consumers should read the label to see whether the products they have in their homes are marked “mevushal” or “not mevushal”.

The juice of grapes only has the possibility of becoming stam yayin once it reaches a stage of production called ”hamshachah”, which basically refers to the point when the grape has been squeezed or pressed to where that juice separates from the pulp.  Before hamshachah, the “juice” cannot become stam yayin, and for that reason a smoothie that includes grapes (and other fruits) is not subject to these halachos. Blending the fruit will release juice, but that juice remains mixed with the pulp of the grape; since there is no hamshachah, it cannot become stam yayin, regardless of who touches or handles it.

Returning to the grapes themselves, earlier Poskim wrote about the possibility of grapes and raisins (i.e., dried grapes) being infested with insects.  The details of those discussions are beyond the scope of this article, and this issue is something one should seek guidance on from their local Rabbi or Va’ad, who will be familiar with current potential issues.  Related to this is that there are people who use grape leaves as a food ingredient, and it is assumed that they are infested with insects, and – as with raisins – consumers should learn how to check them, and if/when they should be concerned about this issue.

This article first appeared in the Let’s Talk Kashrus column, Yated Ne’eman, February 7, 2025.