Kiddush Cups

These cups are used during the Kiddush, which is a blessing read over wine or grape juice to consecrate the Shabbat or a Jewish holiday. The Torah applies to two prerequisites regarding Shabbat - to "keep it" and to "remember it" (shamor and author). Jewish law, therefore obliges that Shabbat be watched in two esteems. One must "keep it" by abstaining from thirty-nine prohibited undertakings, and one must "remember it" by making specific settings for the day, and particularly by the kiddush ceremony.

Reading kiddush ahead of the meal on the Eve of Shabbat and Jewish holidays is therefore considered as a commandment from the Torah. Reading kiddush ahead of the morning meal on Shabbat and holidays, nonetheless, is the essentials of rabbinic origin. Kiddush is not normally read at the third meal on Shabbat, even though Maimonides was of the judgement that wine should be drunk at this meal as well.

Friday Night Kiddush in English

And it was evening and it was morning, the sixth day. And the heavens and the earth and all their hosts were completed. And God finished by the seventh day His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on it He rested from all His work which God created to function.

Attention, gentlemen, rabbis, and my teachers!

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine. (Amen)

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, has desired us, and has given us, in love and good will, His holy Shabbat as a heritage, in remembrance of the work of Creation; the first of the holy festivals, commemorating the Exodus from Egypt. For You have chosen us and sanctified us from among all the nations, and with love and good will given us Your holy Shabbat as a heritage. Blessed are You, Lord, who sanctifies the Shabbat. (Amen)