This article includes a short introduction to the Kiddush from a Chabad-Lubavitch Orthodox perspective, including a breakdown of the structure of the text, a step-by-step guide on how to properly perform the ritual, and links to the relevant text and audio. This article is intended for secular Jews who want to learn about Shabbat. Chabad.org focuses on continuing the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s legacy of bringing Jews closer to Judaism, providing a massive multimedia library for children and adults in eight different languages.
Kiddush: Wine Before You Dine
Shabbat enters with words of wonder poured upon rich wine, to fulfill the verse, “Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it.” We call it kiddush, a ritual of words and drink, a magical bridge from the harried weekday to the day of rest. So enchanted we are by the kiddush that we repeat it again in a different form by day. The kiddush serves as the kickoff for the evening and daytime Shabbat meals.
The nighttime kiddush consists of three parts:
1. Three verses from Genesis that recount how G‑d rested on the seventh day and sanctified it.
2. The blessing for wine.
3. A blessing thanking G‑d for giving us the Shabbat.
Kiddush how-to:
1. On Friday night, sing the Shalom Aleichem, to welcome the Shabbat angels, and the ode to the Woman of Valor.
2. Rinse and dry the kiddush cup. Fill it to the brim with kosher wine.
3. Gather everyone to stand around the Shabbat table. Raise the wine-filled cup in your right hand (unless you are left-handed), and recite the kiddush aloud.
4. On Friday night, gaze at the Shabbat candles as you say the first four words. Then look at the wine in the cup while saying the wine blessing.
5. All in attendance answer “Amen” at the conclusion of the blessings.
6. Drink at least 1½ ounces from the cup. Everyone else should also have a sip.
Technical details:
1. Wine is preferable, but kosher grape juice is okay.
2. Don’t eat or drink before kiddush—starting from sundown of Friday night, and after the prayers on Shabbat morning.
3. If no wine or grape juice is available, recite the kiddush on challah or bread. Just replace the wine blessing with the bread blessing—and wash hands before the kiddush.
4. Once someone has sipped from a cup of wine, the leftover wine should not be used for kiddush unless some fresh wine is added to the cup.
Click here for the Friday night Kiddush texts in Hebrew and English and here for a recording with English transliteration and translation.