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Holidays & Observances

Kiddush for the Eve of Shabbat

This article was written by Stephen Butterfass for Religious Living on the Web.

        Kiddush, meaning "sanctification", is a benediction that is sung or recited over a cup of wine to consecrate the Sabbath or a festival. It fulfills the mitzvah to "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy". The Kiddush is recited on Friday evening before the meal, as one is not supposed to eat until after this blessing has been said.
        The traditional text of the Shabbat Kiddush consists of verses from Genesis explaining that after the work of creation had been completed in six days, God rested on the seventh day, blessed the day and hallowed it; the blessing over wine and the blessing for the holiness of the day which concludes with "Blessed are you, Eternal, who hallows the Sabbath".
        Over time, it became a custom to recite Kiddush in the synagogue during Shabbat evening services. This was originally justified because travelers were often lodged and fed in the synagogue and the mitzvah of sanctifying the Sabbath was performed for them by this public recitation. It is not intended to replace the proper recitation in the home prior to the Shabbat evening meal. It is customary to give each person present some wine from the Kiddush cup. The blessing over the Sabbath bread (Ha-Motzi) is then said and everyone also shares the challah.
Hebrew Text

    Baruch atah, Adonai eloheynu, melech ha-olam, boray p'ree ha-gafen.
    Baruch atah, Adonai eloheynu, melech ha-olam, a-sher kid'shanu
    b'mitzvo-tav v'ratza va-nu, v'shabbat kaddsho b'ahavah oov-ratzone hin-cheelanu,
    zee-karon l'ma-ah-say v'ray-sheet. kee hoo yom t'chee-lah l'mikra-ay kodesh zay-cher
    lee-tzee-at mitz-ra-yim. kee va-nu va-cha-tah v'oh-tah-nu key-da-shta
    me-kol ha-ah-mim, v'shabbat kadd-shcha b'ahavah oov-ratzone hin-chal-ta-nu.
    Baruch atah, Adonai, m'kaddaysh ha-Shabbat.

    Blessed is the Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.
    Blessed is the Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who has sanctified us with
    your Mitzvot and who takes pleasure in us, and in whose love and favor gave us the
    Holy Sabbath as a heritage and as a remembrance of the work of creation. For it is first
    among our days of sacred assembly, a memory of the Exodus from Egypt.For you have
    chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and in love and favor have given
    us Your holy Sabbath as an inheritance. Blessed are You, Adonai, who sanctifies the
    Sabbath.

SHABBAT SHALOM!

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Last Modified: 06/03/1998