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Inspired by the upcoming holiday of Pesach, where many minhagim seem to have each person drink from his own cup, I was wondering about the custom of drinking wine from the cup upon which kiddush is made on Shabbos (often not directly from the cup, but the same wine that has already been "blessed"). Is there any real reason to do this? We are blessing Hashem, not the wine, correct? (edit: is there possibly a problem vis-a-vis A"Z in treating the wine as blessed?) Why not have individual cups of wine pre-poured at every place, and the leader be motzei everyone? And if so, can the same go for challah?

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The cup that was used for the mitzvah has a special blessing attached to it. In particular, the Gemara (Berachos 51b) states that with the cup of wine used for the Grace After Meals, it's especially important to give some to the lady of the house. (And it goes on to tell about how Yalta, the wife of the prominent Amora Rav Nachman, was extremely insulted when a guest who had recited Grace declined to do so.)

Aside from this, there is a halachic issue involved. While it is true that the listeners fulfill their obligation by just hearing kiddush, the best way to perform the mitzvah is for them to drink some of the kiddush wine (either directly from the cup, or by having the one who recited kiddush pour some for them). This is noted by Rashbam and Tosafos to Pesachim 100b (s.v. yedei kiddush), and codified in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 271:14.

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So, at the Seder, should everyone be sure to say their own Kiddush? – Isaac Moses♦ Mar 23 '10 at 20:15
At most Sedarim in which I've participated, that's exactly what people do. I don't know where in the sources this is discussed, though. – Alex Mar 24 '10 at 5:10
I don't think I have ever seen the wine given to the lady of the house. I still don't see why this is "the best way to perform the mitzvah", and it seems to smack of somehow blessing the wine itself, something done in other religions that we generally try to distance ourselves from. which reminds me of another question re: chukat goyim. – Jeremy Mar 24 '10 at 14:20
Wine given to the lady of the house: notice what happens next time you're at a Sheva Berachos. After the leader drinks from the cup used for Grace, its remaining contents are mixed with those of the other cup (that was used for the six special blessings), and one is given to the bride and the other to the groom. – Alex Mar 24 '10 at 20:48
Best way to perform the mitzvah: because then the listeners are actively participating in kiddush, rather than just passively listening and replying Amen. – Alex Mar 24 '10 at 20:48
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There are two blessings in Kiddush. There is the bracha over the wine, and the kiddush zman. Is there a distinction between the two such that you can be yotzei the kiddush from the person making it on their cup, but be yotzei the "Borei Pri Hagafen" on your own cup?

Is it necessary to drink from that cup, or just any cup if you had in mind? Also, is there a source for those that pour some wine in everyone's cup before kiddush, and everyone drinks their own little bit after kiddush?

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It looks like you're asking a question rather than giving an answer. Perhaps you should delete this answer and post a question instead. – Isaac Moses♦ Mar 23 '10 at 23:38
answering a question with a question? there is plenty of good precedence for that! – Jeremy Mar 24 '10 at 14:21
If this was an ad-infinitum-style discussion forum, it would work nicely. It's good if information here sparks new questions, but that'll work best here if they're posted as such. – Isaac Moses♦ Mar 24 '10 at 14:50
I figured it was a sub-question of the discussion. It came to mind when I saw the OT, so I added it here. I'm not sure of the proper procedure. Would you like me to remove and repost? – JewishJon Mar 24 '10 at 19:11
Yes, please. Ideally, you'd post this as a new question with a link in it to the material (this question) that inspired it. Thanks. – Isaac Moses♦ Mar 24 '10 at 19:32
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