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Kiddush: Blessing Over the Wine

The Friday Evening Kiddush begins the most festive meal of the Jewish week, the gateway to a unique, sacred, and enjoyable Shabbat experience. Kiddush is recited over a cup of wine (or grape juice) or a loaf of bread, if necessary – two essential components of the Shabbat table.

Kiddush is a Divine commandment derived from the Ten Commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (l’kodsho).” The text of the Kiddush begins with the recognition that God created the world and sanctified the seventh day as Shabbat. Afterwards, there is a blessing over the wine, followed by another mention of the Divine creation process, and then God is described within the context of His unique relationship with the Jewish nation, as the God who took them out of Egypt and made an eternal covenant with the Children of Israel

E-Learning

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What is Kiddush?

This short video provides a playful but informative discussion about how and why we make Kiddush. Rabbi John Carrier of Reform Burbank Temple Emanuel explains that Jews sanctify sacred time

Kiddush as a Bridge Between the Physical & Spiritual

This short video provides a brief and meaningful explanation for why Jews make Kiddush at Shabbat meals. Arik Singer, a former educator at the Orthodox Perth Hebrew Congregation in Australia and

Shabbat as Rest from Creation

In this article, Rabbi David Aaron explores the deeper meaning of rest on Shabbat, as referenced in the Friday night Kiddush, by encouraging readers to focus on the “yeses” instead of all

The Role of Wine in Jewish Tradition

This excerpt, from an article by Rabbi Maurice Lamm, explains the integral place of wine in Sabbath, festival, and wedding rituals, as a celebratory and symbolic marker between the mundane

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel: Kiddush and the Sanctification of Time

This excerpt from Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s “The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man,” explores the idea of Shabbat as a symbol for the sanctification of time. Although Heschel does not specifically mention

Kiddush as a Reflection of the Jews’ Universal and Particular Relationship with God

This excerpt from the article “The Dual Nature of Shabbat Observance” provides insight into how the text of Kiddush reflects the Jews’ simultaneous universal and particular relationship with God. Rabbi

A Brief Halachic Exploration of the Shabbat Morning Kiddush

This 4 minute long audio recording presents the different customs and halachic opinions regarding the wording of the daytime Kiddush. The short but highly technical lecture is relevant to those

Daytime Kiddush as a Reminder of the Sanctity of Shabbat

In this 2.5 minute video, Rabbi Chaim Brovender explains how the daytime Kiddush serves as a reminder of the sanctity of Shabbat, regardless of whether one simply recites the blessing

A Talmudic Analysis of Kiddusha Rabba – The Great Kiddush

This article is an analysis of the Talmudic passages from which we learn the minimum halachic requirement for the daytime Kiddush. The ideas are based upon the insights of Rabbi Adin

A Halchic Discussion of the Wording of Kiddush

This short, technical article discusses which passages should be recited prior to the blessing over the wine as part of the daytime Kiddush on Shabbat. Due to its technical

Friday Night & Beyond: Insights on Daytime Kiddush (Plus Text & Audio)

This thorough excerpt from “Friday Night and Beyond” by Lori Palatnik begins with meaningful explanations as to why Kiddush is recited during the day on Shabbat. Great for beginners, this resource offers

Psalm 23

The following article outlines the place of Psalm 23 in Shabbat liturgy in various communities, as well as a literary analysis of several theological and psychological interpretations of the words, according to

Kiddush: Stand or Sit?

This responsum, written for Aish.com’s “Ask The Rabbi” column, explains the halachic reasoning behind some of the different customs regarding whether the nighttime and daytime Kiddush ceremony should be recited while standing or

JOFA: The Women’s Role in Kiddush, HaMotzi & Havdallah

The following excerpt from the article “Halachot of Kiddush, HaMotzi and Havdalah, printed by The Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance (JOFA), illustrates how women and men are equally obligated to participate

OneTable Shabbat Dinner Guide

Created by OneTable, a grassroots organization whose goal it is to help people enjoy Shabbat dinners together, the guide (39 pages) to the Friday night dinner experience provides both inspiration and optional

Shabbat Home Ritual: Kiddush

In this short post, Sarah Fishman describes the basics of the Kiddush ceremony, as part of an article introducing the Shabbat home rituals of candle lighting, kiddush over wine, and

How Kiddush Became Part of the Synagogue Service

This article by the late German Jewish scholar Rabbi Ismar Elbogen discusses how the Kiddush was introduced into the synagogue service in Babylonia, a custom which eventually spread to Ashkenazi Jewish communities

Kiddush in Kabbalistic Thought

In this excerpt from “The Thirteen Petalled Rose,” Talmudic scholar Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz provides a step-by-step interpretation of the ritual of Kiddush on Shabbat evening, using complex Jewish mystical thinking

Kiddush: Shabbat and the Possibility of Transformation

Using both Hassidic and classic commentaries, these excerpts from the article “Shabbat and the Possibility of Transformation” explore Kiddush as a reminder of the personal and national redemptive power of

Kiddush: At Home or Synagogue?

This article, ideal for readers with an interest in the development of Jewish law and custom, discusses whether the Friday night Kiddush should be recited as part of the evening

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Music

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Matisyahu’s Kiddush

In this video, world-famous Jewish musician, Matisyahu, sings a slow, emotive rendition of the Friday night Shabbat Kiddush according to Orthodox Ashkenazi custom and pronunciation, as images of other traditional Shabbat rituals

Jazz/Blues Kiddush

This entertaining video demonstrates a unique style of singing the Shabbat evening blessings over the wine with a jazz-blues twist. Benson Simmonds, an actor and acting coach from Los Angeles, California, known

Acapella Kiddush: Soul Key Choir

In this video, The Soul Key Choir, an all male Israeli acapella group, performs a beautiful harmony of the biblical verses recited by many Orthodox communities as the opening of the Shabbat evening Kiddush

A Subtle Melody for the Chabad Daytime Kiddush

This audio recording presents Rabbi Chay Amar singing a subtle melody for the daytime Kiddush, including the preliminary Psalms and passages recited according to the Chabad-Lubavitch custom. Rabbi Amar is

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Singing Kiddush

This is a video of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s musical rendition of Friday night Kiddush according to Orthodox Ashkenazi tradition and pronunciation. Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, also known as the “Singing Rabbi,” composed

Etti Ankri’s Psalm 23 Recited Prior to Daytime Kiddush

This video presents Israeli singer-songwriter Etti Ankri performing a beautiful rendition of Psalm 23, often recited prior to the daytime Kiddush. Born to a Tunisian Jewish family, Etti Ankri has

Atkinu Seudata: A Hasidic Melody for a Kabbalistic Poem Recited Before the Daytime Kiddush

This video presents a Kabbalistic poem sometimes recited before the daytime Kiddush sung to a melody from the Modzitz Hasidic group, known for their musical compositions. Based on passages in the Zohar, Atkinu

A Jazzy Kiddush

This creative jazz rendition of the Ashkenazi version of the Kiddush blessing is from the “Hear O Israel: A Prayer Ceremony in Jazz” album, which combines traditional Hebrew songs and

Rabbi Klatzko’s Musical Kiddush

In this video, Rabbi Benzion Klatzko sings the Shabbat evening Kiddush according to the Orthodox Ashkenazi tradition and pronunciation to a slow, emotive melody, as images related to Shabbat scroll by on

Richard Tucker’s Cantorial Kiddush

In this video, the great American tenor and cantor Richard Tucker (1913-1975) performs the Shabbat evening blessings over the wine according to the Reform Ashkenazi tradition. Tucker’s musical talent was

Kiddush Blues by the Klezmer Company Orchestra

This live Hebrew performance by the Klezmer Company Orchestra demonstrates how to sing the Shabbat evening blessings over the wine, according to the Reform Ashkenazi tradition. Sung by guest vocalist

Kurt Weill’s Musical Composition of Kiddush

This post includes an introduction to Kurt Weill’s musical composition of Kiddush, including an original audio and several videos of other artists covering his work. Weill’s musical composition of Kiddush

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What Else?

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Making Kiddush Inclusive for All

The following article provides practical tools on how to transform your own Shabbat table into one that is inclusive of all members of your community. The Kiddush, one of the

The Blessing Over the Wine in ASL

This video demonstrates how to sign the blessing over the wine in American Sign Language, which is especially helpful for those who are deaf or hard of hearing and those seeking

Why Sweet Wine?

This article from The Jerusalem Post provides historical background and basic information about wine production to explain why the wine used for Kiddush is generally sweet. Adam Montefiore, an expert in Israeli wine, describes

How to Make Kiddush Without Wine

This detailed article describes what to do if you need to make Kiddush but there is no kosher wine available. Although this is not explicitly mentioned, it also applies to

The Power of Kiddush: A Chassidic Story

This story demonstrates the great mystical power behind the ritual of Kiddush. As is common in the Hassidic tradition, the message is conveyed through a story in order to resonate with

Kiddush in Combat

This short clip shows soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces reciting Kiddush in the midst of combat in Gaza during Operation Protective Edge, the 2014 Israel-Gaza War.

Shalom Sesame: Learn About Shabbat with Grover

In this sweet, amusing video, Grover learns about Shabbat on “Shalom Sesame,” the Israeli version of the popular children’s television series, “Sesame Street.” Grover helps his friend prepare for Shabbat

Israeli Family Performs Kiddush and Candle Lighting

This home video shows an Israeli family in the Galilee performing traditional Shabbat rituals around the table, including the lighting of the Shabbat candles and the recitation of the Kiddush.

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Rituals & Ceremonies

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Traditional Ashkenazi Friday Night Kiddush: Text & Audio

This resource includes the complete Hebrew, English, and transliterated text for the traditional Ashkenazi Orthodox Kiddush, including explanations of what motions are performed at each point. Although the Kiddush ritual is almost

The Blessing Over Wine: Masculine, Feminine and Non-Gendered God Language

This post includes the blessing recited over wine in Hebrew, English and transliterated, using masculine, feminine and non-gendered God-language. This blessing is only one small part within the Shabbat Kiddush

Iraqi Tradition of Daytime Kiddush

In this 5.5 minute long audio recording, Cantor Moshe Habusha, a Jerusalem-born singer and musician of Iraqi ancestry, presents a slow, soulful rendition of the daytime Kiddush according to the Iraqi tradition

Kiddush & Building Community: Humanistic Liturgy

This community-centered blessing over the wine was composed by Machar: The Washington Congregation for Secular Humanistic Judaism. Typical of this movement, founded in 1963 by the late Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine, the

Reconstructionist Kiddush and the Concept of Chosenness

This article includes the Hebrew and English text of the Friday night Kiddush according to Reconstructionist tradition, as well as an explanation of the variations from the traditional text. To hear

Atkinu Seudata: A Kabbalistic Poem Recited Before Kiddush

This post presents an in-depth explanation and the Aramaic, English and transliterated texts of a Kabbalistic poem recited before the daytime Kiddush, according to Jewish mystical traditions. The poem is based on passages

Turkish Tradition of the Daytime Kiddush

In this 4 minute audio recording, Cantor Moshe Habusha, a Jerusalem-born singer and musician of Iraqi ancestry, presents a slow, soulful rendition of the daytime Kiddush according to the Turkish tradition.

Home Video of Yemenite Daytime Kiddush

This low quality home video from the Shimoni family presents the Yemenite tradition for the daytime Kiddush, including the preceding Psalms and biblical passages recited according to this tradition. This video reflects

Reform Daytime Kiddush (Audio & Text)

This post presents the Reform custom for the daytime kiddush, including the Hebrew, English and transliterated texts of the blessing and an audio recording of a popular tune in the

Introduction to Daytime Kiddush (with text)

This post from Wikipedia offers a brief introduction to the daytime Kiddush, including an explanation of how it differs in status and content from the nighttime ritual. It also provides

Chabad Daytime Kiddush

This printable PDF file presents the Hebrew and English text of the daytime Kiddush according to the custom of the Chabad Lubavitch Hasidic tradition. The actual blessing over the wine is preceded

Kabbalistic Poems Recited Before Kiddush: Atkinu Seudata & Azamer Bishvochin

This post includes both audio recordings and the Aramaic, English and transliterated texts of two poems that are often recited before Kiddush on Friday night, according to Jewish mystical traditions. Both

Reconstructionist Kiddush with Feminine God-Language: Text & Audio

This article presents the Reconstructionist adaptation of Kiddush into feminine God-language, including a recording by Rabbi Margot Stein, a Reconstructionist rabbi, musician, cantor, and educator, the full text in Hebrew, English

Egalitarian Kiddush and “Shalom Aleychem”

The following post provides information about egalitarian approaches to Kiddush, as well as a video of Cantor Elana Rozenfeld teaching the words and melody of “Shalom Aleychem” and the Friday

Shabbat Evening Kiddush Karaoke: Reform

This ‘karaoke style’ video with Hebrew subtitles, demonstrates how to sing the Shabbat evening blessings over the wine, according to the Reform Ashkenazi tradition. Chanted by Cantor Linda Kates from

Secular/ Humanist Kiddush Texts

The following excerpts from a Secular/Humanist Shabbat Service emphasize both universalistic concepts and the importance of rejoicing in Jewish heritage. Although the traditions of Shabbat are often seen as purely religious rituals,

Traditional Sephardic and Mizrahi Friday Night Kiddush

This article includes the complete Hebrew, English, and transliterated text for the Sephardic/Mizrahi Orthodox Kiddush, as well as a video with onscreen text from Kol Echad M’mekomo. The term “Sephardic” refers to

Yemenite Friday Night Kiddush

This video presents a recording of a traditional Friday night Kiddush according to the Yemenite tradition, recited by Tomer Hatuca, an Israeli singer and musician of Yemenite descent. Yemenite Jews have unique

Shabbat Kiddush of Liberation: Letting the Land Rest

This ecological Kiddush was written for an instance when Shabbat coincided with Tu b’Shvat, the Jewish new year for the trees, by Mark X. Jacobs, the former Founding Executive Director of

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Traditional Practices - Learn How

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Kiddush 101: Discover Everything About Kiddush

This detailed article by Chaviva Gordon-Bennett explains the meaning, origins, customs, and practical how-to’s of the Kiddush ceremony according to Orthodox Ashkenazi tradition, including the translated and transliterated text. Published on ThoughtCo, a website

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