Making Kiddush

Kiddush Wine-
Almost all physical things share a similar quality in that they breakdown or deteriorate over time. The tread wears off of your sneakers, your hair gets split ends, and your phone needs an upgrade. Wine, however, breaks the rules. Wine seems to transcend physical limitations and actually improves with age. In this way wine acts more like a spiritual substance than a physical one. Shabbat is about transcending, going beyond our limitations, so we elevate the time with a cup of wine. This is called Kiddush.

Kiddush How2-

According to the Shulchan Aruch, a book which describes the proper conduct for a lifestyle of Torah, both men and women have an equal right and obligation to recite Kiddush (281). Although it’s really nice to learn the Hebrew, it’s perfectly acceptable to make Kiddush in English or any other language. We make the blessing while holding a full cup of wine in the palm of the right hand and say:

Vay’hi erev vay’hi voker yom ha-shishi
And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day

Vay’khulu ha-shamaim v’ha-aretz v’khol tzva’am
The heavens and the earth were finished, the whole host of them

Vay’khal Elokim ba-yom ha-shviyiy melakhto asher asah
And on the seventh day G-d ended his work which he had made

vayishbot ba-yom ha-shviyi mikhol melakhto asher asah
and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made

Vayivarekh Elokim et yom ha-shviyiy vayikadeish oto
And G-d blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it

ki vo shavat mikhol melakhto asher bara Elokim la’asot
because in it he had rested from all his work which G-d created and done

Baruch atah HaShem Elokeinu melekh ha-olam, borei p’ri ha-gafen. (Amein)
Blessed are You, HaShem, our G-d, King of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Amen)

Baruch atah HaShem Elokeinu melekh ha-olam
Blessed are You, HaShem, our G-d, King of the Universe

asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’ratzah vanu
who sanctifies us with his commandments, and has been pleased with us

v’shabat kadsho b’ahavah u’v’ratzon hinchilanu, zikaron l’ma’aseh v’reishit
You have lovingly and willingly given us Your holy shabbat as an inheritance, in memory of creation

Ki hu yom t’chilah l’mikra’ei kodesh, zeicher litziyat mitzrayim
The shabbat is the first among our holy days, and a remembrance of our exodus from Egypt

Ki vanu vacharta v’otanu kidashta mikol ha’amim
Indeed, You have chosen us and made us holy among all peoples

v’shabbat kadsh’cha b’ahavah u’v’ratzon hin’chal’tanu
and have willingly and lovingly given us Your holy shabbat for an inheritance

Baruch atah HaShem, m’kadesh ha-shabat. (Amein)
Blessed are You, HaShem who sanctifies the shabbat (Amen)