Kiddush (Hebrew: קידוש, literally, "sanctification") is a blessing recited over a cup of kosher wine or kosher grape juice to sanctify Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) or a Jewish holiday. Because the Torah speaks of Shabbat using the language Shamor v'Zakhor, keep it and remember it, Jews believe that Shabbat law consists both of what one may not do and what one must do in order to make the day special. The ceremony of kiddush before the night meal on both Shabbat and Jewish holidays, therefore, is regarded as mandated by the Torah although it does not appear in the Torah in explicit language; the recital of kiddush at the morning meal on Shabbat and holidays is mandated by the Rabbis of the Great Assembly. Kiddush is not typically recited at the third meal ("Seudah Shlishit") on Shabbat, although Maimonides was of the view that this should be done and some follow this custom.

To honor the mitzvah of reciting kiddush, a silver goblet is often used. The cup must hold a revi'it of liquid (about 150 milliters), and most of the wine or grape juice should be drunk by the one who recites kiddush or another person present. Small portions of the remaining liquid in the cup may be handed out to those who are sitting around the Shabbat or holiday table.

Before reciting kiddush, the challah, which will be the next food item eaten in honor of the Shabbat or holiday, is first covered with a cloth. Halakhically, the blessing over bread takes precedence over the blessing over wine. However, in the interests of beginning the meal with kiddush, the challah is covered to "remove" it from the table. Some interpret the covering of the challah allegorically, explaining that this action reminds one to be sensitive to others (we do not take honor away from the bread by focusing on the wine while the bread is "watching").

After prayers on Shabbat or holiday morning, kiddush may be recited even if one does not intend to sit down to a full meal. In that case, cake or other light refreshments will be served. Many synagogues organize a kiddush on the premises immediately after services.

The text of the Friday night kiddush begins with a passage from Genesis 2:1-3, testifying to God's creation of the world. Most people stand during the recital of these Biblical verses, since one of the reasons for keeping Shabbat is to affirm that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.

• [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! 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)

Since the Shabbat morning kiddush is rabbinically rather than bblically mandated, it has a lesser status than the Friday-night kiddush. In order to elevate its importance, it is euphemistically referred to as "Kiddusha Rabba"—קידושא רבא—"The Great Kiddush." There are different versions for the kiddush on Sabbath morning, and it is generally shorter than the Friday night kiddish. In some families, the Sabbath morning kiddush is recited sitting down. This is also the case for kiddush recited in the sukkah on the holiday of Sukkot.

• And the Children of Israel shall observe the Shabbat, establishing the Shabbat throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for all time, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He ceased from work and rested (Exodus 31:16-17).

• Remember the Shabbat day to sanctify it. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is Shabbat for the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your manservant or your maidservant, or your cattle, or the stranger within your gates. For [in] six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Shabbat day and made it holy (Exodus 20:8-11).

• Attention, Gentlemen! Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Amen)

After the Kiddush (or any other blessing) those present say "amen," which means "So be it."

This version of kiddush is said on the festival nights of Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot, and Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. The sections in brackets are added when the holiday coincides with Shabbat (Friday night).

• Attention, teachers, rabbis, and gentlemen!

• 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 chose us from all the nations, and elevated us above all tongues, and sanctified us with His commandments. And You gave us, Lord our God, with love, [Shabbats for rest and] festivals for happiness, holidays and times for joy, this day [of Shabbat and this day of]

• (on Passover): the Festival of Matzos, the time of our freedom

• (on Shavuot): the Festival of Weeks, the time of the giving of our Torah

• (on Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah): the eighth day, the Festival of Assembly, the time of our happiness

• [with love], a holy convocation, a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt. Because You chose us, and sanctified us from all the nations, [and Shabbat] and Your holy festivals [in love and in favor] in happiness and in joy You have given us as a heritage. Blessed are You, God, Who sanctifies [the Shabbat] and Israel and the holiday seasons. (Amen)

On Sukkot, the following blessing is added immediately after kiddush when the meal takes place in a kosher sukkah:

• Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to dwell in the sukkah. (Amen)

On all the holidays, this blessing is recited after the nighttime kiddush (except on the last two nights of Passover, when it is omitted):

• Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this season. (Amen)

When the festival coincides with Shabbat, first the Biblical verses (above, Shabbat morning kiddush) are recited, followed by two additional verses and the blessing over wine. When the holiday falls on a weekday, the morning kiddush begins with the two verses:

• These are the festivals of God, holy convocations, that you should announce at their appointed times (Leviticus 23:4).

• And Moses declared the festivals of the Lord to the Children of Israel (Leviticus 23:44).

• Attention, Gentlemen! Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine. (Amen)

By extension, the term "kiddush" may also refer to a reception of wine, cake, soft drinks, and buffet items such as herring, kugel, salads and cholent following Shabbat morning services at the synagogue. Often a kiddush is hosted by a family celebrating a bar mitzvah, wedding, engagement, birthday, or other happy occasion. Some people also host a kiddush on the yahrtzeit of a parent or other relative. In some synagogues the celebrant is honored with reciting the Shabbat morning kiddush on behalf of all the attendees. In other synagogues the Rabbi or gabbai recites the kiddush.

• Hasidic Jews have the practice of mixing some water into the wine used for the evening Kiddush as a memorial of the original "mixing of the wine" that was required since wine was, at one time, too strong (and too solid) to be drunk without dilution.
• Some Jews also have the custom to make Kiddusha Rabba (i.e. in the morning) on liquor (whisky or vodka seem to be preferred.) In such a situation, however, the blessing she-hakol nihyeh bid'varo is said instead of borei p'ri ha-gafen. Note, however, that the Mishnah Berurah (a Halakhic text) and other codes are against using liquor for Kiddush under most circumstances and when they do allow it, it is only on Hamar Medina, which is generally interpreted as an important drink one would serve to a guest. Water, tea and coffee are not considered Hamar Medina, most people consider non-wine alcoholic beverages to be Hamar Medina, but there is some disagreement as to the status of soft drinks and some other non-alcoholic beverages. There is also a question as to whether kiddush requires a revi'it when recited over hard liqour where the typical serving is far less than a revi'it.

• Scherman, Rabbi Nosson (1984). The Complete ArtScroll Siddur. Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. ISBN 0-89906-650-X.
• Blau, R. Tuvia (1996). "Of the customs of the Hasidim," in Yalkut Minhagim. Jerusalem: Religious Education Administration/Ministry of Education.