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If one doesn't have a non-disposable cup or becher available, can s/he use a disposable cup? Are there any specific types (plastic, styrofoam, paper...) of disposable cups allowed, or is any cup okay to use?

Related: using two plastic cups for Kiddush

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2 Answers

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http://www.bknw.org/uploads/5/9/9/5/5995719/kiddush_using_disposable_cups-2.pdf

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein Zatzal (Igros Moshe Orach Chaim 2 Siman 75) holds that a plastic cup should not be used for Kiddush and Havdala. Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 12 - 23) holds that you may use a plastic cup for Kiddush and Havdala.

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I'm cross-posting my answer from the "Related: using two plastic cups for Kiddush" question:

R' Meir Goldwicht of Yeshiva University addressed this in a Q&A a number of years ago. He felt that doubling a cup does absolutely nothing to solve the problem of the plastic cup not having "Kayamus" as he called it (permanence). He also called into question whether having a plastic cup in the first place was really a problem, since people do refill them and even wash and save them. Since the point of plastic cups is that they could be thrown away, he suggested it was better to use something more permanent, but he did not feel it invalidated the Kiddush to use a plastic cup.

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I've never seen anyone wash a disposable plastic cup unless its the last cup at a party... But I've never seen someone save it for another meal.. weird. – avi Aug 26 '11 at 7:44
1  
@avi - Some of the really nice disposable plastic cups I can imagine people washing and re-using. E.g., the ones that people sometimes use for Pesach. – Adam Mosheh May 16 '12 at 5:29
@AdamMosheh and Avi, at the very least, people do refill them. – Seth J May 16 '12 at 15:06
What it seems to be is that there is no concensus whatsoever. What if kiddush is made for the congregation over a silver cup and everyone else drinks from a plastic cup. Does that resolve the issue for any of the above poskim? – Bruce James Dec 28 '12 at 15:05

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