Ready to usher in the Sabbath in grand style? The Friday night Kiddush prayer is a beautiful way to begin your Shabbat evening. As the sun sets, and the beginning of a new day approaches, this traditional Jewish prayer is recited to sanctify the Sabbath and acknowledge G-d’s blessings.
The Kiddush is said over a cup of wine, symbolizing joy and celebration, and begins with the words “Baruch Ata Adonai,” which translates to “Blessed are You, G-d.” It’s an opportunity to give thanks for the blessings of the week and welcome in a day of rest and rejuvenation.
While Kiddush is typically said in Hebrew, the English translation is readily available. It’s a tradition that has been passed down through generations and serves as a reminder of our connection to those who came before us.
So, make your Friday night special by taking a moment to recite Kiddush and appreciate the beauty of the Sabbath evening. Let the power of this prayer inspire you and carry you through the weekend.
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Table of Contents
- What Is the Kiddush Prayer?
- Shabbat: The Meaning of the Kiddush Blessing Over Wine
- The Shabbat Kiddush Prayer Free PDF Download
- Friday Night Kiddush vs Shabbat Morning Kiddush
- Recite the Friday Night Kiddush Prayer: Hebrew Text, Transliteration and English Translation
- Listen to the Friday Night Kiddush Prayer (Video)
- Recite the Shabbat Morning Kiddush Prayer: Hebrew Transliteration and English Text
- Listen to the Daytime Kiddush Prayer for Shabbat Morning (Video)
- What is the short Kiddush prayer?
- Who says the Kiddush prayer?
- Can a woman say Kiddush?
- Do I Have to Recite the Kiddush in Hebrew?
- Extra Details and Customs Regarding Kiddush
What Is the Kiddush Prayer?
Kiddush, a cornerstone of Jewish customs, means ” to sanctify”. This ritual takes place during Shabbat and Yom Tov (holidays). It begins with the words “Remember the Sabbath day” and ends with a blessing said over a cup of wine or grape juice.
According to the Torah, it was first introduced in the Book of Genesis when G-d blessed and sanctified the seventh day of creation. However, it wasn’t until the Exodus that it became a common practice for the Jewish people to observe.
The Kiddush sanctifies Shabbat or any other holiday by blessing wine and reciting the appropriate prayers.
Some of the verses come from the Torah itself, while other parts were added over time by Jewish sages and scholars.
Shabbat: The Meaning of the Kiddush Blessing Over Wine
Shabbat, the Jewish Sabbath, is a special day when we pause from our daily toil. The Hebrew words “שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא,” (rested from all His work which He had created) help us remember that on the seventh day, G-d rested.
Kiddush is the blessing that sanctifies Shabbat. But it’s more than just a blessing; it’s a celebration and a remembrance of the act of creation of the world. The word “וַיְכַל,” which translates to “and he finished,” takes us to the seventh day G-d finished the work.
In this act of remembrance, we not only commemorate the Sabbath but also acknowledge G-d’s blessing upon us, showing our gratitude for the holy Shabbat He has given us.
It is also a way of connecting to our ancestors who observed Kiddush and passed it down for generations as an eternal covenant.
The Shabbat Kiddush Prayer Free PDF Download
Download the full Shabbat Kiddush prayer by clicking on the link below:
The Shabbat Kiddush Prayer – Free PDF Download
Friday Night Kiddush vs Shabbat Morning Kiddush
The Friday night Kiddush and the Shabbat morning Kiddush hold significant importance in Jewish tradition, but they are different in content and length.
- Content: The Kiddush on Friday evening revolves around creation, while the Kiddush recited on Shabbat day reminds us of the exodus from Egypt. In both instances, we express gratitude to God who chose us among all the nations and sanctified us with His commandments.
The Friday night Kiddush includes the ‘Vayechulu’ paragraph from Genesis, which describes how God finished creating the world on the seventh day and made it holy. It also includes the blessing over wine and the blessing acknowledging the sanctity of the day.
The text comes from the Torah, particularly the books of Genesis and Exodus, capturing both the story of creation and the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. - Length: The Shabbat morning Kiddush is shorter and does not include the ‘Vayechulu’ paragraph. It consists of a blessing over wine followed by a brief passage from the Torah about the commandment to observe the Sabbath.
- Purpose: Both Kiddush prayers have a similar purpose of acknowledging and sanctifying Shabbat, but the Friday night Kiddush also serves to transition from the weekdays into the sacred rest of the Shabbat.
Despite these differences, both the Friday night and Shabbat morning Kiddush are central components of Shabbat observance.
Recite the Friday Night Kiddush Prayer: Hebrew Text, Transliteration and English Translation
Picture this: it’s Friday evening and the sun has set. It’s the time when Shabbat begins, marking the start of a day of rest. The families gather around their tables, ready to start their celebration. As the sun begins to set on Friday evening, the housewife prepares to light the candles to welcome in Shabbat.
The head of the family takes up the Kiddush cup, filled with wine, a symbol of life’s joy and fullness.
The family hushes as the Kiddush prayer, a blessing over the wine, is recited, marking the start of the Shabbat meal.
This act, using the Kiddush cup, brings a unique touch to the sanctity of the evening.
Friday Night Kiddush Prayer in Hebrew
וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי. וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה. וַיִּשְׁבּת בַּיּום הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּו אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ. כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּו אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂות
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְרָצָה בָנוּ וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָנוּ זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. כִּי הוּא יוֹם תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם. כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ וְאותָנוּ קִדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשְׁךָ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת.
Friday Night Kiddush Prayer: Hebrew Transliteration
Vayehi erev vayehi boker yom hashishi.
Vayekhullu hashamayim vehaaretz vekhol tzva’am vayekhal Elohim bayom hashvi’i melakhto asher asa. Vayishbot bayom hashvi’i mikol melakhto asher bara Elohim la’asot.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam borei pri hagafen.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’ratza banu v’shabbat kadshecha b’ahava uvratzon hinchilanu zikaron l’ma’aseh v’reishit.
Ki hu yom techilah le’mikraei kodesh, zecher litziat mitzrayim.
Ki vanu bacharta ve’otanu kidashta mikol ha’amim v’shabbat kadshecha b’ahava uvratzon hinchaltanu.
Baruch atah Adonai mekadesh hashabbat.
Friday Night Kiddush Prayer: English Translation
And there was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. On the seventh day, G-d finished the work that He had been doing, and He ceased on the seventh day from all the work that He had done. Then G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on this day He ceased from all the work that He had created and made.
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has been pleased with us. You have given us Your holy Shabbat as an inheritance in love and favor, a memorial of the work of creation. It is the first of the holy convocations, a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt. For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations and have given us Your holy Sabbath in love and favor. Blessed are You, Lord, who sanctifies the Sabbath.
Listen to the Friday Night Kiddush Prayer (Video)
Recite the Shabbat Morning Kiddush Prayer: Hebrew Transliteration and English Text
Now, let’s fast forward to Shabbat morning. After attending morning prayers at the synagogue, families return home for another joyful meal.
This time, a shorter version of the Kiddush is recited over a cup of wine, to renew our feeling of the sacredness of the day.
The Shabbat morning Kiddush Prayer in Hebrew
The Shabbat morning Kiddush, known as Kiddush Rabbah, is shorter than the Friday night Kiddush:
וְשָׁמְרוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַשַׁבָּת, לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת הַשַׁבָּת לְדוֹרוֹתָם בְּרִית עוֹלָם. בֵּינִי וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹת הִיא לְעוֹלָם כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה ה’ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שָׁבַת וַיִּנָפַשׁ.
זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ. שֵׁשְׁת יָמִים תַּעֲבוֹד וְעָשִׂיתָ כָּל מְלַאכְתֶּךָ, וּבְיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבָּת לַה’ אֱלֹהֶיךָ, לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה כָּל מְלָאכָה, אַתָּה וּבִנְךָ וּבִתֶּךָ, וְעַבְדֶךָ וַאֲמָתְךָ וּבְהֶמְתֶךָ, וְגֵרְךָ אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ. כִּי שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה ה’ אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת הָאָרֶץ, אֶת הַיָּם וְאֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר בָּם, וָיָּנַח בַּיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי
עַל כֵּן בֵּירַךְ ה’ אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱֹלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן
The Shabbat morning Kiddush Prayer: Hebrew Transliteration
VeShamru v’nei Yisrael et Ha-Shabbat, la’asot et Ha-Shabbat l’dorotam b’rit olam beni u’vein b’nei Yisrael ot hi l’olam ki shehet yamim asa Adonai et ha-shamayim v’et ha-aretz u’vayom ha’shevi’i shavat vayinafash.
Zachor et yom hashabbat lekadesh. Sheshet yamim ta’avod ve’asita kol melachtecha, uveyom hashvi’i shabbat la’Hashem Eloheicha, lo ta’aseh kol melacha, atah uvincha uvitcha, ve’avdecha va’amatecha uvehemtecha, ve’gercha asher bish’arecha.
Ki sheshet yamim asah Hashem et hashamayim ve’et haaretz, et hayam ve’et kol asher bam, vayanach bayom hashvi’i.
Al ken beirach Hashem et yom hashabbat vayekadeshuhu
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha’olam borei pri hagafen.
The Shabbat morning Kiddush Prayer: English Translation
And the Children of Israel kept the Shabbat, observing the Sabbath in every generation as a lasting covenant. Between me and the Children of Israel it is an eternal sign, for in six days the Lord made the Heavens and the Earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. And the seventh day will be a Sabbath of the Lord your G-d. You shall do no work, neither you nor your son nor your daughter nor your manservant nor your maidservant nor your beast nor the stranger in your midst. For in six days the Lord made the Heaven and the Earth and the Sea and that they contain, and rested on the seventh day.
Therefore, G-d blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.
Blessed are you, Lord our G-d, Ruler of the Universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.
Listen to the Daytime Kiddush Prayer for Shabbat Morning (Video)
What is the short Kiddush prayer?
The short Kiddush prayer, often recited on Shabbat and holidays, is a testament to the day God finished the work of creation. The prayer, known as “Zachor et Yom Ha-Shabbat,” reminds us of the seventh day when God completed His work and blessed this day, making it holy.
It includes phrases like “Yom Ha-Shishi” and “Melech Ha-Olam,” which means “the sixth day” and “King of the Universe,” respectively. These phrases emphasize that God, our lord, sanctified the seventh day and made it holy.
Who says the Kiddush prayer?
In most traditional settings, the head of the household or the one hosting the gathering typically makes Kiddush. This person is often referred to as the “one who led the blessings.”
The act of making Kiddush includes reciting specific prayers, lifting a silver Kiddush cup filled with Kiddush wine or grape juice, and expressing gratitude for God’s commandments and favor upon us.
Whether it’s a Shabbat or a holy festival, this ritual holds immense significance.
Can a woman say Kiddush?
Yes, a woman can say Kiddush. In fact, women are equally obligated to observe the Kiddush on Friday night and during the day. The act of Kiddush is not limited by gender but is a universal practice to honor the seventh day when God blessed and made the earth holy.
So, if a woman chooses to lead the Kiddush, she lifts the Kiddush cup, recites the prayer, and shares the Kiddush drinks, just like any other person leading the blessings. It is a moment of unity, where everyone present joins in acknowledging and celebrating the sanctity of the day.
Do I Have to Recite the Kiddush in Hebrew?
Traditionally, Kiddush is recited in Hebrew, as this is the language in which the original prayers and passages from the Torah were written. Using the original Hebrew language can help maintain the sanctity, authenticity, and historical continuity of the ritual.
However, if you do not know Hebrew or are not comfortable reciting the Kiddush in Hebrew, many communities accept the Kiddush to be recited in a language that the person understands.
This is because the ultimate goal of Kiddush is to acknowledge and sanctify the Sabbath day, and this acknowledgment should ideally be made in a language that the reciter understands.
It’s always important to consult with your local rabbi or spiritual leader to understand the specific practices and expectations of your community.
Extra Details and Customs Regarding Kiddush
While Kiddush is often observed at home, a Synagogue Kiddush is also quite common. It includes various traditions, such as holding the Kiddush cup in the right hand and glancing at the Shabbat candles during the recitation.
The Kiddush cup is filled to the brim, symbolizing complete blessing and abundance. A customary sip from the cup serves as the conclusion to the Kiddush, followed by a meal.
It’s important to note that all these rituals are not just traditions but also a way to show our gratitude and give thanks to G-d for giving us the Shabbat and holidays.
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