Kiddush

Richard B. Aiken

Shabbat Kiddush Requirements

To do Shabbat kiddush,

  • Say, or hear, the Shabbat kiddush blessings/segments, and
  • “Establish a meal” (kovei'a se'uda).

NOTE: There is never any requirement on an individual to drink kiddush wine (except at the Passover seder), but the kiddush wine must be drunk by one or more persons.

To fulfill kiddush requirements of “establishing a meal,” you need not drink the wine or grape juice (but someone must drink it).  Instead, you may hear kiddush and then simply eat the required amount of bread or mezonot (see above).  This applies to Shabbat or Jewish festivals, evening or morning.

KIDDUSH: WHO MAY MAKE

Jewish Man or Woman Making Kiddush

As on Jewish festivals, any adult Jew, male or female, may say kiddush for him/herself and also include any other Jews of any age or gender.

REASON: Any person who may fulfill the mitzva of kiddush may say it for another person.

NOTE: Women are obligated to say (or have said for them) Shabbat morning kiddush.

KIDDUSH: WHAT TO DRINK

Ideal Kiddush Beverage: Wine/Grape Juice

Wine (or grape juice) is the ideal and proper beverage for kiddush (and havdala).

REASON: Wine is considered to be a prestigious beverage.

Diluting Kiddush Wine

There is no need to dilute wine before drinking it.

KIDDUSH: HOW MUCH TO POUR

Pour Revi'it for Shabbat Kiddush

As on Jewish festivals, the minimum volume of kiddush beverage on which you may say Shabbat kiddush (or havdala) is a revi'it, as follows:

  • 4 fl. oz. (119 ml) for d'oraita cases such as Shabbat (or first-day Jewish festival) evening kiddush, and
  • 3 fl. oz. (99 ml) for d'rabanan cases such as kiddush for Shabbat lunch.

How High To Fill Shabbat Kiddush Cup

Ideally, fill your kiddush cup to just above the rim, even if the cup is larger than 4 fl. oz. (119 ml). Don't make the cup overflow.

NOTE: If you did not fill it to the rim, it is still OK.

If Not Enough Wine

If there is not enough wine or grape juice for Shabbat (or Jewish festival kiddush) and havdala:

  • Set aside the first cup for havdala; then, if there is one more cup,
  • Use it for the morning kiddush.
  • See How To Do Shabbat Daytime Kiddush and How To Do Shabbat Evening Kiddush .

 KIDDUSH: CUP & WINE BOTTLES

Shabbat: Your Own Kiddush Cup

As on Jewish festivals, if you want to drink kiddush wine, you may hold your own cup of wine (or grape juice) during kiddush or receive wine or grape juice from the kiddush leader's cup, but neither is required.

Kos Pagum

Do not use a kos pagum for kiddush. Kos pagum means either:

  • “Physically damaged or broken drinking utensil":   (You may not use such a cup for kiddushl'chatchila),OR
  • Cup of wine, grape juice, or any beverage that has been drunk from.

This beverage may not be used for a kos shel bracha until at least a small amount more of some beverage has been added to the existing beverage.

Uncovered Wine Bottles/Cups

You do not need to close the wine bottle or cover the other wine cups while the first of several people says kiddush, whether on Shabbat or Jewish festivals.

Washing Wine Glass

There is no need to wash a wine glass before using it if it is already clean.

Pouring Back Wine

You may pour excess wine from kiddush back into the bottle as long as there is more wine already in the bottle than what you are pouring back and as long as the bottle has been toveled.

If there is less wine in the bottle than in your glass, you must pour at least one drop of wine from the bottle into your wine glass or cup before you pour it back into the bottle.

KIDDUSH: HOW MUCH TO DRINK

Drinking Cheekful for Shabbat Kiddush

As on Jewish festivals, the minimum total volume of Shabbat kiddush beverage that must be drunk--usually by the kiddush-maker (mevareich) but it may even be by several people combined--is a cheekful (m'lo lugmov), as follows:

  • 2 fl. oz. (59 ml) within 30 seconds of beginning to drink for d'oraita cases such as Shabbat evening kiddush (as well as first-night Jewish festival kiddush and all havdalas), and
  • 1.7 fl. oz. (50 ml) within 30 seconds of beginning to drink for d'rabanan cases such as Shabbat lunch kiddush (as well as first-day Jewish festival lunch kiddush and all second-day Jewish festival kiddushes).

NOTE: If no one drinks the kiddush beverage, a blessing was made in vain (bracha l'vatala), and the commandment to say or hear kiddush has not been fulfilled.

KIDDUSH: WHEN TO SPEAK OR DRINK

When To Drink or Speak after Kiddush

Once the leader (mevareich) has said kiddush for other people and someone has drunk at least 2 fl. oz. (59 ml) of wine (or other appropriate beverage) over which kiddush was made, you may speak, even without having drunk anything yourself.

WHEN TO BLESS AFTER KIDDUSH

When You Must Say the Kiddush Blessing after Hearing Kiddush

You must say the blessing on wine if you:

  • Heard kiddush, then
  • Spoke, and
  • Now want to drink some wine, even from the cup over which kiddush was made.

NOTE: If you heard someone make kiddush over a she'hakol beverage and you drank from that cup, you must say borei pri ha'gafen before drinking wine or grape juice later in the meal.

SHABBAT KIDDUSH: STANDING OR SITTING

Various customs apply to whether to stand or sit during kiddush (or havdala). Follow your tradition.

Copyright 2015 Richard B. Aiken. Halacha L’Maaseh appears courtesy of www.practicalhalacha.com Visit their web site for more information.