Kiddush-Jewish Tradition

Kiddush-Jewish Tradition

Kiddush is from the Hebrew word for holy or sanctify, to set apart as holy. God set the Sabbath apart as holy. Saying the kiddush on Friday evening dates back about 2,500 years.

Shabbat candles are traditionally lit before the Shabbat has begun. Generally, the woman of the home lights the candles and says the candle blessing with her head covered. At least two candles are used, one for the person saying the blessing and one for God. Some families will have a candle for each member of the family.

The traditional blessing says: “Baruch atah Adonai Elohenu Melech ha’olam asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu l’hadlik ner shel Shabbat.” “Blessed are you Adonai our God, King of the universe, who makes us holy with mitzvoth and instructs us to kindle the lights of Shabbat.”

Juice or wine is held as the kiddush is recited, “Baruch atah Adonai Elohaynu Melech ha’olam boray pri ha-gafen.” “Blessed are you Adonai our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.”

Notice the blessing is for the fruit of the vine. The picture painted is one of freshness, a gift right out of the Creator’s own hand. The Sabbath is a celebration of God’s creatorship. It is a memorial of His completed work. It is the weekly anniversary of creation. Thus the Sabbath is brought in with light and with life, with brightness and with joy.

In addition to the light and the juice from the vine there is the bread from the earth. All are symbols of life. You will also notice we are not asking God to bless the food – He already did that when he created it. We are blessing God, or praising God, for giving us such good food.

The hamotzi is the blessing we say for the bread. Hamotzi means “who brings forth.” Challah bread is a traditional Sabbath bread. It is an egg bread that is made up of three rolls of dough braided together into one loaf. Generally two loaves are used as a reminder of the miracle of the double portion of manna that God gave to us every Friday when we were wandering in the wilderness after we left Egypt. The Torah tells us that every day, for forty years, manna came down for us to eat. Every day there was only enough for one day and any that was kept over for the next day spoiled before morning, except on Sabbath. Every Friday a double portion came down which miraculously did not spoil that night. Even though manna came down every day throughout the week, every week, for forty years, manna never came down on the Sabbath.

Even though the manna account is recorded in the Scriptures, the Scriptures do not tell us how to bring in the Sabbath, or that there needs to be a ceremony for bringing in the Sabbath. The Scriptures do not mention the candles, or the Kiddush, or the hamotzi. They are a tradition. A beautiful and tasty tradition I might add.

 

Originally from:  Jewish Discoveries by Jeff Zaremsky, pages 100-101, which contains a total of 22 fascinating chapters of biblical history and lessons plus 25 rich Jewish tradition sections, and 27 powerful testimonies, with over 40 beautifully rendered professional works of art all on over 300 jam packed pages.  You can own this treasure by visiting www.Jewishheritage.net

Posted on Shalom Adventure by Barbara Zaremsky

Related Articles

More From Traditions

Magen David

The Magen David is the six pointed star also known as the Star of David. Magen David literally…
Magen David

A Salty Jewish Tradition

The Torah says “And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall…
A Salty Jewish Tradition

Yiddish Part Two

Prior to the Holocaust, Yiddish, a language more resembling Middle High German than anything…
Yiddish Part Two
Maccabeats Lead Havdallah

Maccabeats Lead Havdallah

The Accidental Talmudist posted this video the “Maccabeats Lead Havdalah - Partners In Torah…
Maccabeats Lead Havdallah

Kosher

The word “kosher” literally means “proper.” When kosher is used to describe food it refers to…
Kosher
Mekhitza

Mekhitza-Jewish Tradition

A mekhitza is a dividing wall or barrier that is used to separate men and women. It could be…
Mekhitza-Jewish Tradition

Seinfeld: Jewish Food

You will get a real laugh from this excerpt from the show Seinfeld.
Seinfeld: Jewish Food

Shabbat Candles

One of the most well known Jewish customs connected with the observance of Shabbat (the…
Shabbat Candles
Photo: Front of a Kosher Market on a Street Corner

Mixing Matters

"...You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk" (Deuteronomy 14:21). Many take this…
Mixing Matters

The Jewish Calendar

LUNAR-SOLAR CALENDAR The Jewish calendar is based mainly on the phases of the moon; but it also…
The Jewish Calendar
Sha'Atnez

Sha'Atnez

Sha'atnez is the term used for clothing made with a mixture of wool and linen fibres. This…
Sha'Atnez

Publish the Menu module to "offcanvas" position. Here you can publish other modules as well.
Learn More.


donation