The 4 Cups of the Seder

I am sure this week's edition finds you crazed in your preparations for Pesach. Whether you are cleaning or packing (or perhaps both) I hope you take the time to reflect on not just removing the physical Chametz but also the spiritual chametz that has gathered these past few months. Chazal write that Chametz (leavened bread) symbolizes haughtiness and arrogance (a leavened attitude) and we should take the time to burn this bad Middah with the rest of our Chametz. As the Seder starts with Kaddash I wanted to briefly discuss two issues that come up around that. The first question I want to deal with is how much one is required to drink. However, before answering this I want to point out an interesting potential difference between Kiddush on Shabbas, Yuntif, and the 4 Cups. By Kiddush on Shabbas and Yuntif the priority is placed on the bracha and the wording of Kiddush Hayom. The gemara writes that whenever we make Kiddush we do it over a cup of wine, but the drinking of the wine is secondary to the words being mentioned. This idea, while true on Shabbas and on Yuntif, might not hold for Pesach. We all know Pesach is Zman Chairusaino- The time of freedom and we do things that kings do, and kings love to drink (see Achasveirosh). Thus since we are acting like kings it could be that the drinking of the wine is the priority and the mentioning of the brachos is secondary. The Brisker Rav says this discussion relates to how much one has to drink. If you assume that 4 cups is like regular Kiddush (Tosfos) then you would only need to drink a Revi'is (roughly 4 ounces). Sine drinking is secondary to the brachos the Rabbis required you to just taste the wine (it doesn't look right to make kiddush holding a cup of wine and not drink) and the minimum amount of tasting is 4 ounces. However if the priority is the drinking (Ramban) one would need to drink the majority of the cup. (Technically, he should have the whole cup but we rely on the concept of Rov-- drinking the majority is like drinking the whole thing). In order to be safe, you can measure your Kiddush cups beforehand- A 4 ounce Kiddush cup is perfect and if you drink the whole thing you fulfill both opinions. You can also go with 8 ounce cup, but remember you need to drink more than half. What about Grape Juice for the 4 cups? As we mentioned earlier the 4 cups have an added dimension of Derech Chairos. Rav Moshe Feinstein writes that as a result of the requirement of Derech Chairos grape juice is prohibited. Derech Charios requires drinking elegant, special, royal wine. As grape juice is viewed by wine connoisseurs as inferior it would not be allowed. Rav Soloveitchik argued on Rav Moshe and said one can not define Derech Chairos by what the connoisseurs say, rather it should be defined by each individual. If an individual prefers grape juice to wine than in fact that individual can use grape juice for the 4 cups. The Rav also agrees that if one prefers white wine to red wine, even though red has more symbolism- since this individual prefers white wine he should drink it. According to the Rav the symbolism of the day is secondary to the overall motif of Derech Chairos. While it is important throughout the Seder to spend time and explain why we use certain items- our priority should be to convey a sense of freedom, and the great prestige it is to be slaves to Hashem, and not to Pharaoh.