Why the “I Love Colorado” Shot Glass is the Best Choice for the 4 Cups of Wine for Many

by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com

Yes, people are going to think it is strange, but there are a number of people that should not necessarily be drinking large shiurim of wine.  According to the practical and halachic research done by this author, this glass is the way to go.

There is a new shiur that is quite rapidly taking hold in Eretz Yisroel and elsewhere.  Poskim across many spectrums of Klal Yisroel are encouraging anyone who is recommended to avoid wine consumption by their doctor to adopt this new standard.

What is the exact shiur?

It seems that the shiur of a reviis according to Rav Azriel Auerbach shlita, and Rav Ovadiah Yoseph zt”l, and many others is that it is 75  mL.  This is equivalent to 2.54 ounces. This is based upon the discovery that the Dirham upon which the Rambam based his shiur is smaller than we had previously thought.  Practically speaking, the only glass that this author found is the aforementioned 2.6 ounce “I Love Colorado” shot glass imported by Paykoc Imports in Colorado.  Wine is preferable to grape juice l’halacha.

(a reader pointed out that this is also available – DECOLUSH 75mL (2.5 Ounce) Stainless Steel Espresso Cups – 4 Pack Double Wall Insulated Cups Demitasse Cups Coffee Cup For Drinking, Drinking Coffee, Drinking Beverages https://a.co/d/5vTobIr)

THE TWO SOURCES

The Gemorah provides us with two methods of determining the reviis and they are cited l’halacha (See MB 486:1).

• There is the thumb box volume with the dimensions of 2 thumb widths by 2  thumb widths by 2.7 thumb widths.
• There is the displacement volume of 1.5 average eggs.

It is clear that both of these values yielded the same volume.

THE CONTROVERSY BEGINS

Rav Yechezkel Landau (1713-1793) zt”l noted (Tzlach on Psachim 116a) the modern day discrepancy between the two measurements and found that the thumb box yielded a volume twice the size of the egg and half volume.  He posited that the eggs during the times of chazal were twice the size of the modern eggs.  This is not in accordance with the view of Rav Yoseph Karo in his Shulchan Aruch.

Generally speaking. three major opinions have developed.

• Rav Chaim No’eh (1890-1954) zt”l, basing himself on the Rambam’s quote of the weight conversion to volume of the Dirham, a coin that was present in medieval times, determined the Revi’is to be the equivalent of 86.4 grams.  This translates to 3.05 ounces.
• The Chazon Ish, however, calculated that the Reviis is 150 grams or 5.3 ounces. (The Steipler Gaon in his Shiurin Shel Torah according to the Chazon Ish (p. 66).
• Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l calculated that the Revi’is is 93.56 grams which is 3.3 ounces (Rav Dovid Feinstein zt”l in his Kol Dodi Hagaddah).

The Rambam writes in Hilchos Eiruvin (1:12) that a reviis of water is equivalent in weight to 26.25 Dirhams. [This was rounded up to 27 by other Poskim] Rav Chaim No’eh assumed that the Dirham that the Rambam referenced was one that was much later – equivalent to those in Yerushalayim during his own time [and that they never changed].  Modern discoveries, however, have proven that during the Rambam’s time, the Dirham was much smaller.

The Sefer Hidurei Midos cites all of these references (and the most recent printing has a haskama of Rav Shlomo Miller shlita).  He also recommends the smaller shiur for anyone who needs it.

And so, anyone who cannot drink this shiur should use the “I Love Colorado” 2.6 ounce shot glass.  Also, since it is too late to order them from Amazon, this author has ordered 144 of such glasses. May those who need it receive a refuah shleimah b’karov!

You can contact the author at [email protected]

Someone pointed out to me that there is a $60 set too –

Barski – European Glass – Whiskey Shot Glasses – Artistically Designed – 2.6 oz. – Set of 6 – Made in Europe

Also this one:  DECOLUSH 75mL (2.5 Ounce) Stainless Steel Espresso Cups – 4 Pack Double Wall Insulated Cups Demitasse Cups Coffee Cup For Drinking, Drinking Coffee, Drinking Beverages https://a.co/d/5vTobIr

You can contact the author at [email protected]