The Torah states, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy [lekadesho]” (Exodus 20:8). Remembering Shabbat means that we sanctify it through a verbal declaration. Consequently, one performs the ritual of sanctification [Kiddush] at the beginning of Shabbat, before eating. In Kiddush one mentions the commandments of rest and of cessation from labor on this day, in addition to having mentioned them in the evening service. While reciting Kiddush, one holds a cup filled with wine in order to bestow importance upon the rite. One should not eat or drink anything from the beginning of Shabbat until after reciting Kiddush.

One prepares for Kiddush as follows:

Two or more hallot are placed on the table. These are termed double loaves [lehem mishneh]. The reason for this is that the obligation of Shabbat meals is derived from the story of the manna provided to the Israelites in the wilderness. On Friday, a double portion of manna was given, so that they would not have to gather it on Shabbat and thereby profane the day’s rest. The two hallot serve as a reminder of this event.

The hallot are placed on a tray or cloth and are covered with a cloth, as the manna was “wrapped” from above and below in two layers of dew.

The hallot must be covered during Kiddush. The reason stems from the fact that the bread and its blessing are of greater prominence than the wine and its blessing, which means that theoretically one should recite the blessing over the hallot before Kiddush over the wine. Since in practice one first recites Kiddush over the wine, the hallot are covered throughout Kiddush, so that they will not be snubbed and their blessing will not be overlooked.

The Kiddush cup must be whole, not broken, cracked, or damaged. It is proper to use an attractive cup that honors the blessing. Many use a silver goblet for Kiddush. One must rinse the cup thoroughly before pouring the wine.

One recites Kiddush on wine. Those who cannot drink wine should recite Kiddush on grape juice. Only grape juice made from actual grapes is suitable for Kiddush; a grape-flavored soft drink is not.

Some are accustomed to stand for Kiddush. Others sit, while yet others stand for the first section and then sit before the blessing “Who creates fruit of the vine.” Each person should follow the custom of his community or family. Kiddush is recited out loud, even if one is dining alone. One must be able to at least hear his own voice.

From the start of Kiddush until after drinking the wine, no one should talk. This applies equally to the one reciting the Kiddush and to those listening to him.

Before starting, the one reciting the Kiddush should hold the cup of wine in his right hand and raise it. He should glance briefly at the lit candles. During Kiddush itself, and especially during the blessing “Who creates fruit of the vine,” he should look at the wine in the cup.

Women are obligated in the mitzva of Kiddush, and they may recite Kiddush themselves.

Kiddush comprises three sections: verses describing the first Shabbat after the creation of the world, the blessing “Who creates fruit of the vine” over the wine, and the sanctification [kiddush] blessing itself.

For Ashkenazim:

(Quietly: “It was evening and it was morning,) the sixth day. The heavens and the earth and their entire host were completed. God completed on the seventh day His works that He had made; He rested on the seventh day from all His works that He had made. God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because on it He rested from all His works that God created to make” (Genesis 1:31–2:3).

“Attention, (masters, gentlemen, my teachers):

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates fruit of the vine.

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us through His commandments and desired us; and He has given us, with love and with desire, His holy Shabbat, in remembrance of the work of creation. (For it is the) first (day) of the holy festivals, in memory of the exodus from Egypt. (For You chose us and it is us You have sanctified above all the nations,) and You have given us Your holy Shabbat with love and with desire. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctifies the Shabbat.”

For Sephardim:

Leader: “It was evening and it was morning, the sixth day. The heavens and the earth and their entire host were completed. God completed on the seventh day His works that He had made; He rested on the seventh day from all His works that He had made. God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it; because on it He rested from all His works that God created to make” (Genesis 1:31–2:3).

“Attention, masters.”

Others: “To life!”

Leader: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates fruit of the vine.

“Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us through His commandments and desired us, and He has given us, with love and with desire, His holy Shabbat, in remembrance of the work of creation. [It is] first among the holy festivals, in memory of the exodus from Egypt. And You have given us Your holy Shabbat with love and with desire. Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctifies the Shabbat.”

The one reciting Kiddush should drink from the wine, at least a quantity that fills one side of his mouth. After he has drunk from the wine, it is proper for each of the listeners to also taste some of it.

Kiddush should be recited in the location where one intends to eat his meal. This is derived from the verse “And you call the Sabbath a delight” (Isaiah 58:13), which is interpreted to mean that the place where one recites the “calling,” i.e., Kiddush, should be the place where one enjoys the “delight” of the Shabbat meal. One who recites Kiddush over wine but does not sit down straightaway to eat his meal in that place has not fulfilled the obligation of Kiddush.

One who returns from the synagogue and needs to postpone the meal must wait to recite Kiddush until the time of the meal, at which point he should recite Kiddush and immediately afterward sit down to eat. Alternatively, one may recite Kiddush and immediately eat a food whose blessing is “Who creates various kinds of nourishment [mezonot],” in a quantity that renders him liable to recite the blessing after food (see p. 518). The reason is that such eating is itself considered a “meal.” Then, when the time comes for the actual meal, he merely washes his hands, recites the blessing over the hallot, and partakes of the meal.

It is important to know that with regard to Kiddush in the evening and in the day, if one merely tastes the wine or eats only refreshments whose blessing is not “Who creates various kinds of nourishment,” he does not fulfill the requirement that Kiddush be recited in the place of the meal. Therefore, those who were present at a “kiddush” in the synagogue but did not eat bread or those types of baked goods must later recite Kiddush in the place that they will be eating their meal.

When there is no wine available, or when the one reciting Kiddush is forbidden or unable to drink wine, he may perform the evening Kiddush over the hallot intended for the blessing of HaMotzi, “Who brings forth bread from the earth.” In such a case, the procedure is as follows: He washes his hands for the meal (as detailed on p. 525, in the section dealing with the ritual washing of the hands for a meal), places his hands on the two hallot that are covered with a cloth, recites the first part of Kiddush (the Vaykhulu passage), then removes the cloth, holds the hallot themselves, and recites the blessing of HaMotzi. He subsequently recites the sanctification blessing (“Who sanctified us through His commandments and desired us”), cuts the bread, takes a bite, and distributes slices of bread among the rest of the diners.