Kiddush

Kiddush (Hebrew: קידוש, lit. "sanctification" or "consecration") is a Jewish prayer recited over a cup of wine to sanctify the Sabbath and Jewish holidays. It is derived from the Hebrew word kadosh, meaning "holy." The Kiddush is typically recited by the head of the household or a rabbi at the beginning of the Sabbath (Friday evening) and Jewish holiday meals. The prayer serves to separate the holy day from the rest of the week, marking the transition into a time of rest and spiritual focus. The Kiddush is often followed by the blessing over bread, known as hamotzi. In Yiddish, the term is kidush, and in Ladino, it is kiddush. The Kiddush ceremony is a central ritual in Jewish practice, symbolizing the sanctification of time and the observance of sacred days.