Kiddush
American Heritage Dictionary:
Top
Kid·dush
(kĭd'əsh, kē-dūsh') 
n. Judaism
The traditional blessing and prayer recited over wine on the eve of the Sabbath or a festival.
n. Judaism
The traditional blessing and prayer recited over wine on the eve of the Sabbath or a festival.
[Mishnaic Hebrew qiddûš, sanctification, from Hebrew qiddēš, to sanctify, derived stem of qādaš, to be holy.]
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:
Top
kiddush
Jewish prayer or blessing recited over a cup of wine immediately before the meal on the eve of the Sabbath or a major festival, acknowledging the sanctity of the day that is beginning. It is usually performed by the head of the household, but it may involve all family members. After the recitation, each person sips wine from the cup. In the Ashkenazi tradition, two loaves of bread on the table signify the manna gathered by the Israelites during their years of wandering in the wilderness.
For more information on kiddush, visit Britannica.com.
Encyclopedia of Judaism:
Top
Kiddush
("Sanctification") Prayer recited on the Sabbath and Festivals, usually over a cup of Wine, to consecrate the day. The principal Kiddush, recited in the evening at the beginning of the holy day, was instituted on the basis of Exodus 20:8, "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy" (le-kaddesho). The sages of the Talmud interpreted this to mean "remember it, over wine" (Pes. 106a). The choice of wine as the object of this blessing was perhaps the normalization of an established custom. It was also determined that this blessing should be recited close to the beginning of the Sabbath or festival and that "there is no Kiddush except at the place of a meal" (Pes. 101a), i.e., the prayer was to be said at home rather than in the synagogue. If wine is not available, the benediction of the day may be made over two loaves of bread following the blessing over bread.
From the difference of opinion between the Schools of Hillel and Shammai (Ber. 8:1) as to whether the blessing over wine should precede the benediction of the day, it can be seen that the practice of Kiddush is ancient. Although there is some discussion in the sources, it cannot be determined whether it was originally recited before or after the meal.
On the Sabbath and festival mornings, a Kiddush is also recited prior to the first meal of the day; this practice was instituted by the rabbis, and although it is basically only the prayer over wine it is called euphemistically Kiddusha Rabbah, "the great Kiddush." If wine is not at hand, any strong drink may be used and the appropriate blessing recited.
According to the Talmud (Ber. 20b), women are obligated to hear or recite the Kiddush, even though it is a time-bound positive commandment from which they were normally exempted. The reason given is that since women are commanded to "observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy," and the obligation to "observe" includes to "remember," it follows that women are also obligated concerning Kiddush.
The custom developed early of reciting the evening Kiddush in the synagogue also at the end of the Friday night services. In the Talmud this is explained as being for the benefit of guests who were housed in a room next to the synagogue (Pes. 101a). Another source cites the fact that in certain areas of Babylonia wine was scarce, so that the public prayer was for those who could not obtain it. Since the rabbis had determined that Kiddush should be said "near the meal," this public recitation was never fully accepted. Sephardi communities stopped it in medieval times, it did not take root in Erets Israel, while in Ashkenazi synagogues in the Diaspora the wine over which the blessing is recited is given to children under Bar Mitzvah age.
Today, in many congregations, on Sabbath mornings, after services, a public Kiddush is recited and refreshments are served as a way of socializing.
The Kiddush today consists of two sections: the blessing over wine and the benediction of the day. The latter was initially a simple phrase, whose precise formulation is unknown, although one example is the prayer in the Tosefta to Berakhot 3:7, "Blessed be [He Who] sanctified the Sabbath day."
The introductory biblical phrases which precede the Kiddush on Sabbath eve are Genesis 1:31 and 2:1-3. The blessing for wine is next recited, followed by that for the sanctification of the day. A number of ideas are included in the lengthy blessing: that Israel was itself made holy by God's commandments, that it was favored by having been given the Sabbath as an inheritance in remembrance of Creation, that the Sabbath is the first of the holy convocations mentioned in the list of "sacred occasions" (Lev. 23:3) and commemorates the Exodus from Egypt (Deut. 5:12-15). This is followed by a sentence whose form is reminiscent of the festival Kiddush. The final phrase, "Blessed are You, O Lord, who hallows the Sabbath" was in earlier times "hallows Israel and the Sabbath day" (TJ, Ber. 8:1; Pes. 10:2).
On Sabbath morning, it is sufficient to recite only the prayer over wine. However, opening sentences (Ex. 31:16-17 or 20:8-11 or both), which call upon Israel to observe the Sabbath "throughout the generations as a covenant for all time," are often added.
The festival Kiddush also consists of the blessing over the wine and a blessing over the day. Should the beginning of a festival coincide with Sabbath, interpolated into the festival Kiddush are appropriate phrases noting the Sabbath. The festival Kiddush is followed, except on the concluding days of Passover, by the recitation of the She-Heḥeyanu prayer. On a Sabbath occurring during the intermediate days of a festival, the regular Sabbath Kiddush is recited.
Wine goblets reserved for the prayer over wine are a common item in the Jewish home; they are often made of silver and bear an inscription, such as the blessing over wine or "Observe the Sabbath day and keep it holy."
In general it is customary to stand for the evening Kiddush, either for all of it or for the introductory phrases from Genesis; some who stand for the evening Kiddush prefer to sit for the morning recitation. In some families each person has his own cup of wine and the blessing is recited in unison. The most common procedure is that following the Kiddush those sitting down to the meal wash their hands (Netilat Yadayim) in preparation for the blessing over bread.
While the Hebrew text among Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Jews is the same, the English translation appearing in the Reform Gates of Prayer (New York, 1975) is not a literal one and reflects an additional interpretation of the aim of the Kiddush, namely thanksgiving. ("The seventh day is consecrated to the Lord our God. With wine, our symbol of joy, we celebrate this day and its holiness. We give thanks for all our blessings, for life and health, for work and rest, for home and love and friendship, on Sabbath, eternal sign of Creation. We remember that we are created in the Divine image. We therefore raise the cup in thanksgiving.")
Columbia Encyclopedia:
Top
Kiddush
Kiddush (kĭd'əsh) [Heb.,=sanctification], Jewish ceremonial blessing indicating the beginning of the Sabbath or any other Hebrew festival. Kiddush is also said at mealtime and consists of a prayer of benediction over the occasion and the wine or bread.
Word Tutor:
Top
kiddush
IN BRIEF: n. - A ceremonial blessing given in a Jewish home or synagogue.
Tutor's tip: Note: "Kaddish" is a (Hebrew prayer for the dead). "Kiddish" means (child-like behavior). "Kiddush" is a (Hebrew blessing said before a meal).
LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
Top
Kiddush
Kiddush (Hebrew: קידוש), literally, "sanctification," is a blessing recited over wine or grape juice to sanctify the Shabbat and Jewish holidays.
|
Contents
|
Significance
The Torah refers to two requirements concerning Shabbat - to "keep it" and to "remember it" (shamor and zakhor). Jewish law therefore requires that Shabbat be observed in two respects. One must "keep it" by refraining from thirty-nine forbidden activities, and one must "remember it" by making special arrangements for the day, and specifically through the kiddush ceremony.
Reciting kiddush before the meal on the eve of Shabbat and Jewish holidays is thus a commandment from the Torah (as it is explained by the Oral Torah). Reciting kiddush before the morning meal on Shabbat and holidays is a requirement of rabbinic origin. Kiddush is not usually recited at the third meal on Shabbat, although Maimonides was of the opinion that wine should be drunk at this meal as well.
Rituals
To honor the mitzvah of reciting kiddush, a silver goblet is often used, although any cup can suffice. The cup must hold a revi'it of liquid.[1] A revi'it is between 5.46 fluid ounces (161.5 ml) (Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz)[2] and 3.07 fluid ounces (90.7 ml) (Rabbi Avraham Chaim Naeh).[3] After the person reciting the kiddush drinks from the wine, the rest of it is passed around the table or poured out into small cups for the other participants. Alternatively, wine is poured for each of the participants before kiddush.
Before reciting kiddush, the challah, which will be the next food item eaten in honor of the Shabbat or holiday, is first covered with a cloth. According to Halakha, the blessing over bread takes precedence to the blessing over wine. However, in the interests of beginning the meal with kiddush, the challah is covered to "remove" it from the table (some do not have the challah on the table at all during kiddush). Some interpret the covering of the challah allegorically, explaining that just as we go out of our way to protect an inanimate object (the bread) from being "insulted" (by the blessing over wine taking precedence), we should display the same sensitivity toward the feelings of other people.
Synagogue kiddush
The term kiddush also refers to refreshments served either at home or at the synagogue following prayer services on Shabbat or Yom Tov, which begin with the recitation of kiddush. Cake, crackers, and gefilte fish are traditionally served. On Shavuot morning, the custom is to serve dairy foods such as cheesecake and cheese blintzes for the kiddush.[4]
According to the Shulchan Aruch,[5] kiddush should be recited preceding the Shabbat meal. Eating mezonot such as cake or cookies or drinking an additional revi'it of wine, was also deemed sufficient. Nevertheless, some Jews recite kiddush only when about to partake of a full meal.[6]
Often a kiddush is hosted by a family celebrating the birth of a daughter, a bar mitzvah, a wedding, an engagement, a birthday, or other happy occasion. Some people also host a kiddush on the yahrtzeit of a parent or other relative. In some synagogues the celebrant is honored with reciting the Shabbat morning kiddush on behalf of all the attendees. In other synagogues the rabbi or gabbai recites the kiddush. Some Jews make kiddush on Shabbat morning over liquor instead of wine. When this is done, the blessing recited is she-hakol nihyeh bid'varo instead of borei p'ri ha-gafen. The Mishnah Berurah (an authoritative Ashkenazi halakhic text) allows liquor to be substituted for wine on the grounds that it is Hamar Medina, a drink one would serve to a respected guest.
Kiddush customs
In the absence of wine or grape juice, Friday night kiddush may be recited over the challah; the blessing over bread is substituted for the blessing over wine. In that case, the ritual hand-washing normally performed prior to consuming the challah is done before the recitation of kiddush. German Jews follow this procedure even if wine is present. If there is only sufficient wine or grape juice for one kiddush, it should be used for the Friday night kiddush.[7]
In many synagogues, kiddush is recited on Friday night at the end of services. This kiddush does not take the place of the obligation to recite kiddush at the Friday night meal. When recited in a synagogue, the first paragraph (Genesis 2:1-3) is omitted.
The text of the Friday night kiddush begins with a passage from Genesis 2:1-3, as a testimony to God's creation of the world and cessation of work on the seventh day. Some people stand during the recital of these Biblical verses (even if they sit for kiddush), since according to Jewish law testimony must be given standing.
There are different customs regarding sitting or standing while reciting kiddush depending on communal and family tradition.
Some Hasidic and Sephardic Jews dilute the wine with water before kiddush on Friday night to commemorate the old custom of "mixing of the wine" in the days when wine was too strong to be drunk without dilution.
Hebrew text of Friday night kiddush
וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי
וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם
וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה
וַיִשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעי מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה
וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ
כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת
סַבְרִי מָרָנָן וְרַבָּנָן וְרַבּוֹתַי
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְרַָצָה בָנוּ
וְשַׁבָּת קָדְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָנוּ
זִכָּרוּן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵשִׁית
כִּי הוּא יוֹם תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ
זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם
כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתְּ וְאוֹתָנוּ קְדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים
וְשַׁבָּת קָדְשְׁךָ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּנוּ
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַׁבָּתEnglish translation of Friday night kiddush
[Evening became morning]: The sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all that filled them were complete.
And on the seventh day G-d completed the labor He had performed, and He refrained on the seventh day from all the labor which He had performed. And G-d blessed the seventh day and He sanctified it, for He then refrained from all his labor - from the act of creation that God had performed.
Permit me, distinguished ones, rabbis, guests and colleagues:
Blessed are You, the Lord our God, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine. (Amen)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments, and hoped for us, and with love and intent invested us with His sacred Sabbath, as a memorial to the deed of Creation. It is the first amongst the holy festivals, commemorating the exodus from Egypt. For You chose us, and sanctified us, out of all nations, and with love and intent You invested us with Your Holy Sabbath.
Blessed are You, Sanctifier of the Sabbath. (Amen)
Shabbat morning kiddush
Since the Shabbat morning kiddush is rabbinically rather than biblically mandated, it has a lesser status than the Friday night kiddush. In order to elevate its importance, it is euphemistically referred to as "Kiddusha Rabba"—קידושא רבא—"The Great Kiddush." There are different versions for the kiddush on Sabbath morning, and it is generally shorter than the Friday night kiddush. Originally, this kiddush consisted only of the blessing over the wine.
Morning Kidush Text
וְשָׁמְרוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶת-הַשַּׁבָּת, לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת-הַשַּׁבָּת לְדֹרֹתָם, בְּרִית עוֹלָם. בֵּינִי, וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל—אוֹת הִיא, לְעֹלָם: כִּי-שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי, שָׁבַת וַיִּנָּפַשׁ.
זָכוֹר אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, לְקַדְּשׁוֹ. שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבֹד, וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל-מְלַאכְתֶּךָ. וְיוֹם, הַשְּׁבִיעִי—שַׁבָּת, לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ: לֹא-תַעֲשֶׂה כָל-מְלָאכָה אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבִתֶּךָ, עַבְדְּךָ וַאֲמָתְךָ וּבְהֶמְתֶּךָ, וְגֵרְךָ, אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ. כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת-יָמִים עָשָׂה יְהוָה אֶת-הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת-הָאָרֶץ, אֶת-הַיָּם וְאֶת-כָּל-אֲשֶׁר-בָּם, וַיָּנַח, בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי; עַל-כֵּן, בֵּרַךְ יְהוָה אֶת-יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת—וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ. סברי מרנו ורבנן ורבותי
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶןEnglish translation of Shabbat morning kiddush
(And the Children of Israel shall observe the Shabbat, by establishing the Shabbat for their generations as an eternal covenant. Between Me and the Children of Israel it is an eternal sign, that [in] six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested. (Exodus 31:16-17)
(Remember the Shabbat day to sanctify it. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is Shabbat for the LORD your God; you shall not do any work — you, your son and your daughter, your manservant and your maidservant, and your cattle, and the stranger who is in your gates. For [in] six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Shabbat day and made it holy. (Exodus 20:7-10))
Attention, gentlemen, [rabbis, and my teachers]!
Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Amen)
After the kiddush (as for any other blessing) those present say "amen," which means "truly." Those who say "amen" are considered to have said the kiddush by proxy.
Holiday eve kiddush
This version of kiddush is said on the festival nights of Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, and Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. The sections in brackets are added when the holiday coincides with Shabbat (Friday night).
English translation of holiday eve kiddush
Attention, gentlemen, [rabbis, and my teachers]! Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Amen)
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations, and elevated us above all tongues, and sanctified us with His commandments. And You gave us, Lord our God, with love, [Sabbaths for rest and] festivals for happiness, holidays and times for joy, this day [of Shabbat and this day of]
- (on Passover): the Festival of Matzos, the time of our freedom
- (on Shavuot): the Festival of Weeks, the time of the giving of our Torah
- (on Sukkot): the Festival of Succos, the time of our happiness
- (on Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah): the eighth day, the Festival of Assembly, the time of our happiness
[With love], a holy convocation, a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt. Because You chose us, and sanctified us from all the nations, [and Shabbat] and Your holy festivals [in love and in avor] in happiness and in joy You have given us as a heritage. Blessed are You, God, Who sanctifies [the Shabbat and] Israel and the holiday seasons. (Amen)
On Sukkot, the following blessing is added immediately after kiddush when the meal takes place in a kosher sukkah:
- Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah. (Amen)
On all the holidays, this blessing is recited after the nighttime kiddush (except on the last two nights of Passover, when it is omitted):
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this season. (Amen)
Holiday morning kiddush
When the festival coincides with Shabbat, first the Biblical verses (above, Shabbat morning kiddush) are recited, followed by two additional verses and the blessing over wine. When the holiday falls on a weekday, the morning kiddush begins with the two verses:
English translation of holiday morning kiddush
(These are the festivals of God, holy convocations, that you should announce at their appointed times (Leviticus 23:4).
(And Moses declared the festivals of the Lord to the Children of Israel (Leviticus 23:44).)
Attention, Gentlemen!
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Amen)
References
- ^ Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 271:13
- ^ (Hazon Ish 39)
- ^ Shiurei Torah
- ^ "Special Features for Shavuot – Naso: Dairy Foods". Torah Tidbits. ou.org. 1999. http://www.ou.org/torah/tt/5759/shavuotnaso59/specialfeatures.htm. Retrieved 24 May 2011.
- ^ Orach Chayim 273:5; see Kiddush on Shabbat Day, Rabbi Doniel Schreiber, Yeshivat Har Etzion
- ^ Based i.a. on Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe YD, vol. 2, no. 163, and ibid. OC vol. 4, no 63; see Kiddush on Shabbat Day, Rabbi Doniel Schreiber, Yeshivat Har Etzion
- ^ Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 271:3,11
External links
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:
Copyrights:
American Heritage Dictionary
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 1994-2012 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more
Encyclopedia of Judaism
The New Encyclopedia of Judaism. Copyright © 1989, 2002 by G.G. The Jerusalem Publishing House, Ltd. All rights reserved.
Read more
Columbia Encyclopedia
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/.
Read more
Word Tutor
Copyright © 2004-present by eSpindle Learning, a 501(c) nonprofit organization. All rights reserved.
eSpindle provides personalized spelling and vocabulary tutoring online; sign up free. Read more
eSpindle provides personalized spelling and vocabulary tutoring online; sign up free. Read more
