How to Make Kiddush
Kiddush is one of the central rituals of the Shabbat meals. Kiddush is recited twice every Shabbat, once before Friday night dinner and again before the daytime Shabbat meal, often called Shabbat lunch. The Friday night Kiddush is different from the Shabbat day Kiddush. Here’s how it’s done.
The Kiddush prayer is traditionally recited over kosher wine or grape juice and marks the holiness of Shabbat before the meal. The Friday night prayer is longer, while the Kiddush recited before Saturday lunch is shorter.
What Is Kiddush? Meaning of the Shabbat Blessing
The Hebrew word Kiddush means “sanctification.” Through Kiddush, we verbally recognize and sanctify Shabbat over a cup of wine before beginning the meal.
You may also see or hear the word as Kiddish in some Ashkenazi and Yiddish-influenced usage. It reflects a traditional pronunciation of the same word and refers to the same Kiddush blessing.
How to Make Kiddush for Shabbat
Take a Kiddush cup that holds at least a revi'it of wine. Because the exact measurement of a revi'it varies by halachic opinion, a cup holding around 3.5 fluid ounces, about 100 mL, is a practical size that accommodates commonly used measurements.
Fill the cup with the kosher wine or grape juice of your choice. It doesn’t have to be the sweet Concord wine you may be used to. You can use a wine that you enjoy so the mitzvah is performed with joy. Some people have the custom of filling the cup to the brim or allowing a small amount to spill over as a symbol of abundance and joy.
Many people hold the Kiddush cup in the right hand while reciting the prayer, although customs differ in exactly how the cup is held. Customs also vary as to whether Kiddush is recited sitting or standing, so follow your family or community minhag where applicable.
Kiddush is generally recited in the place where the Shabbat meal will be eaten.
Friday Night Kiddush Prayer and Transliteration
On Friday night, Kiddush begins with verses describing the completion of Creation and continues with the blessing over wine and the blessing sanctifying Shabbat.
Transliteration
Yom Ha-shi-shi.
Va-y'chu-lu Ha-sha-ma-yim v'ha-a-retz, v'chawl^ts'va-am.
Va-y'chal e-lo-him ba-yom ha-sh'vi-i, m'lach-to a-sher a-sa.
Va-yish-bot ba-yom ha-sh'vi-i, mi-kawl^m'lach-to a-sher a-sa.
Va-y'va-rech e-lo-him et yom ha-sh'vi-i, va-y'ka-deish o-to,
ki vo sha-vat mi-kawl^m'lach-to a-sher ba-ra e-lo-him la-a-sot.
Sav-rei ma-ra-nan!
Ba-ruch a-tah, A-do-nai,
E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-o-lam,
bo-rei p'ri ha-ga-fen.
Those listening respond: A-mein.
Ba-ruch a-tah, A-do-nai,
E-lo-hei-nu, me-lech ha-o-lam,
a-sher ki-d'sha-nu b'mits-vo-tav v'ra-tsa va-nu,
v'sha-bat kawd'sho
b'a-ha-va uv'ra-tson
hin-hi-la-nu,
zi-ka-ron l'ma-a-sei v'rei-shit.
T'chi-la l'mik-ra-ei^ko-desh,
ze-cher li-tsi-at Mits-ra-yim.
Ki va-nu va-char-ta
v'o-ta-nu ki-dash-ta
mi-kawl^ha-a-mim,
v'Sha-bat kawd-sh'cha
b'a-ha-va u-v'ra-tson
hin-chal-ta-nu.
Ba-ruch a-tah A-do-nai, m'ka-deish ha-Sha-bat.
Those listening respond: A-mein.
Meaning of the Friday night Kiddush: The prayer begins by recalling the completion of Creation and the holiness of the seventh day. It then blesses the wine and thanks G-d for sanctifying the Jewish people with Shabbat.
Shabbat Day Kiddush for Saturday Lunch
The Shabbat day Kiddush, recited before the Saturday daytime meal or Shabbat lunch, is shorter than the Friday night Kiddush. The custom below begins with verses about remembering and observing Shabbat and concludes with the blessing over wine.
Transliteration
Za-chor et yom ha-Sha-bat l'ka-d'sho.
Shei-shet ya-mim ta^a-vod, v'a-si-ta kawl m'lach-te-cha.
V'yom ha-sh'vi^i, Sha-bat La-do-nai E-lo-he-cha,
lo ta^a-seh chawl m'la-cha,
a-tah u-vin-cha u-vi-te-cha,
av-d'cha va^a-ma-t'cha, uv-hem-te-cha,
v'gei-r'cha a-sher bish-a-re-cha.
Ki shei-shet ya-mim, a-sa A-do-nai
et ha-sha-ma-yim, v'et ha^a-rets,
et ha-yam, v'et kawl a-sher bam
va-ya-nach ba-yom ha-sh'vi^i.
Al kein bei-rach A-do-nai et yom ha-Sha-bat va-y'ka-d'shei-hu.
Sav-rei ma-ra-nan!
Ba-ruch a-tah, A-do-nai,
E-lo-hei-nu me-lech ha-o-lam,
bo-rei p'ri ha-ga-fen.
Those listening respond: A-mein.
Meaning of the Shabbat day Kiddush: The daytime Kiddush recalls the commandment to remember Shabbat and concludes with the blessing over the wine before the Shabbat meal.
After Kiddush: Wine, Challah and the Shabbat Meal
After Kiddush, the person reciting should drink at least a melo lugmav, literally a cheekful, of the wine or grape juice. For an average person, this is slightly more than half of a revi'it. This is more precise than simply saying to drink “half of the cup,” since Kiddush cups can be many different sizes.
Those who heard Kiddush may also drink some of the Kiddush wine or grape juice. After Kiddush, wash for bread according to your custom, say the blessing over the challah, and enjoy your Shabbat meal.
Learn More About Jewish Home Traditions
Kiddush is one of the mitzvot and traditions that gives the Jewish home its weekly rhythm. Explore more Judaism articles and Jewish guides about Jewish life, holidays, mitzvot, and traditions for the home.
If you are learning about another foundational mitzvah of the Jewish home, read our guide explaining what a mezuzah is and the meaning of the kosher scroll placed on the doorpost.
You can also review the traditional mezuzah blessing, including its Hebrew, transliteration, and English meaning.
