What Is the Concern

The question is, if nowadays there is no longer any snakes, what should be the problem with using uncovered wine for kiddush?

When learning through the sugya, I came up with at least five options:

1. Even though we no longer have snakes, when it comes to kiddush we are overly concerned due to הקריבהו נא , and we live and pretend as if there are still snakes.
2. The Magen Avraham (Orach Chaim 272:2) mentions an idea of נמר טעמו וריחו – that wine left uncovered acquires a bad taste and smell”.
3. The Maharsham in Da’as Torah quotes the Toras Chaim in Bava Basra (97b) who writes: The wine we recite kiddush over on Friday night hints to the wine המשומר בענ ביו ליום שכולו ש בת – which is stored in its grapes for the day which is completely Shabbos which is constantly hidden, therefore, when making kiddush we make sure to use wine that was never left uncovered.
4. The sefer Nishmas Kol Chai of R’ Chaim Palagi (Orach Chaim 13) brings from the Atzei Almogim that the reason we don’t used uncovered wine even today when snakes are uncommon is because we are worried that some saliva from ba’alei chaim [living creatures] got mixed into the wine, and for kiddush there needs to be a certain amount of wine. Since some saliva may have got mixed in, we are worried that inside the kiddush cup there isn’t the correct amount of wine as part of it is saliva and not wine. The Nishmas Kol Chai asks: Surely, if we are no longer worried about snakes dropping their venom into beverages, we shouldn’t be worried about other creatures either, and if we are worried about saliva from other creatures, we should be worried about venom as well? However, see the Pesach Devir (s.k. 2) who says that he doesn’t understand the question, as perhaps snakes which emit venom are no longer common, however, other reptiles and creatures which emit saliva are still common, therefore, we are worried about those and not snakes.
5. R’ Yosef Chaim Sonnefeld in Shu”t Salmas Chaim (Orach Chaim 244, 245) has a different understanding in what the issue of using uncovered wine for kiddush is, and he writes that this is the simple understanding of the Gemara. He learns that it’s true that we are no longer worried about snakes, however, the mere fact that the wine was left unguarded is a problem of הקריבהו נא. He explains: The Gemara says that even according to R’ Nechemia who learns that straining the wine removes the venom, there is still a problem of הקריב הו נא. If straining the wine removes the venom, what is the problem? The answer is, one wouldn’t serve such wine to a king, if one was serving the king he would guard the wine and make sure it doesn’t come to a situation that it needs straining. Although straining helps, one would still make sure to avoid it in honor of the king. R’ Yosef Chaim Sonnefeld explains: The same thing is with wine being used for kiddush, although straining helps remove venom, one should avoid having to come onto it. He adds, the same thing is with wine today when there are no snakes, although there is no need to strain it, one should make sure to guard the wine and not leave it uncovered and unwatched.

Although we mentioned five explanations in what the potential problem with using uncovered wine for kiddush is, the poskim seem to take on that there are two main reasons, either the regular reason of snakes depositing venom and although they are uncommon nowadays, due to הקריבהו נא we are still worried, or the reason of נמר טעמו וריחו – that uncovered wine loses its taste and smell.

Several Practical Differences Between the Two Main Reasons

1. There is someone in the room and the wine is being watched: According to the reason of snakes the wine would be ok, however, according to the reason ofנמר טעמו וריחו it would still be a problem, as in the end of the day the taste and smell is being ruined.
2. It is left uncovered, but the taste and smell hasn’t changed: According to the reason of snakes it would be a problem, however, according to the reason of נמר טעמו וריחו it would be ok.
3. Improved taste: If the wine improves when left uncovered to oxidize, it would be ok according to the reason of נמר טעמו וריחו, however, according to the reason of snakes it would still be a problem
4. It was left uncovered inside a refrigerator: Inside a refrigerator we are not worried about snakes as they don’t like the cold, consequently, if the reason is that we are worried about snakes, then certainly the wine is ok. However, the question is, if the taste and smell of wine left in a refrigerator is affected. If it is, then it would be a problem, however, if it’s not then it would be ok (this may depend on how clean one’s refrigerator is).
5. A tiny hole in the lid of the wine bottle: In Yoreh Deah 116 the Pri Chodosh writes that we are only worried about mashkim megulim if there is a hole the size of the little toe of a newborn child in the lid. If the hole in the lid would be smaller than this, then there would be no concern of snakes, however, there may still be a problem of נמר טעמו וריחו.

The majority of poskim seem to take on that the main problem is נמר טעמו וריחו. See for example, Mishnah Berurah 272:3; Ketzos HaShulchan 46:2; Kaf HaChaim s.k 9; Shulchan Aruch HaRav, sif 1 and others.