Q. Hello Rav, thank you for answering my question #4538 recently. I think I may have not explained it properly. In my scenario I explained that in my family there are 3 males and we are eating together AND MAKING A ZIMUN. (for example, every shabbat meal).

Its this case that I was asking about bentching on a KOS or not. I wrote “I know there is a mitzvah to bentch on a Kos of wine/grape juice. I seem to remember it being very common when I was a student in Israel 20 years ago, but these days in Toronto I don’t see it often.

A. See Mishna Berura (182: 4) that quotes the different opinions and concludes that if someone has wine or other “Chamar Medino” readily available, it is indeed a mitzva to use it for Birchas Mamozon, yet one does not have to spend effort to get it.

Piskei Teshuvos (ibid) clearly writes that the minhag in our days is not to be “makpid” or place effort on reciting Birchas Hamozon with a cup of wine during weekdays, unless it is a “Seudas Mitzva” like a Bris or similar.

He mentions that the wine may be detrimental to the continuation of the work and duties due during working days, (and most likely driving in our days). Even grape juice may be harmful for the many that have sugar issues.

Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is that unless there is already a wine bottle by the table, one does not have usually to bring one.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a