HalachicallySpeaking.docVIP

Halachically Speaking Authored by Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits Reviewed by Rabbi Ben-zion Schiffenbauer Shlita All Piskei HaravYisroel Belsky Shlita are reviewed by HaravYisroel Belsky Shlita Volume 4 Issue 19 Halachos of Coffee Part 1 Coffee is a widely consumed stimulant beverage prepared from roasted beans of the coffee plant. Coffee has been around for hundreds of years (beginning in the ninth century). Today, there are many types of coffee, such as espresso, cappuccino, and latte. Coffee appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and diabetes. Some say that although coffee can cause some medical problems, the opinion of most medical experts is that drinking up to three eight-ounce cups of coffee per day does not have significant health risks for adults. Many people drink a cup of coffee every day, while others drink multiple cups. There are many halachic issues which arise when drinking coffee. These issues will be discussed at length in this issue. The halachos are listed in the order that they appear in Shulchan Aruch. Wearing Tefillin and Drinking Coffee The Shulchan Aruch says one who is going to eat a large meal should take off his tefillin, but if he is eating a temporary meal then there is no need to do so. The reason is because we are afraid he may become drunk at a large meal and it will be a disgrace to the tefillin. Some poskim feel that the Shulchan Aruch’s rule applied in his times when tefillin were worn all day, However, today maybe it would be different since we only wear it for krias shema and davening. However, others are stringent even today. L’maseh, the custom is to be lenient and permit the drinking of coffee while wearing tefillin. Drinking Coffee before Davening The poskim say that drinking water is permitted before davening, as this is not a haughty act. Others are more stringent with this. Any drink that will bring one to intoxication is prohibited before davening. In previous years, drinking coffee with milk