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Kiddush for the Evening of Rosh HaShanah
KIDDUSH FOR THE EVENING OF ROSH HASHANAH
Usually translated as the Jewish New Year, Rosh HaShanah literally means the “Head of the Year.” However, in biblical days it was referred to as Yom Teruah, the “Day of the Sounding of the Shofar,” or Yom HaZikaron, the “Day of Remembering.” It is a day in which we contemplate the year that has gone by, the improvements we have made in our character and actions, and the challenges that still face us.
Jewish sages teach that it is an anniversary of the Creation of the world and a day of renewing the bond with our Creator. As we sanctify the holiday over wine or grape juice, we name God’s love for us and the invitation to be God-conscious and inspired by love in all our actions in the coming year.
Check out Momentum’s downloadable, printer-friendly Rosh HaShanah cards for family fun and games that spark meaningful conversations with family members and guests of all ages. Dive into big ideas with your teens and tweens and play memorable games with your youngest guests.
Many have the tradition to stand for the evening Kiddush. When the festival falls on Friday night, begin with the following paragraph, then continue with the rest of the blessings, below:
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שֵׁדַּקְיַו יִעיִבְשַּׁה םוֹי תֶא םיִהֹלֱא ךֶרָבְיַו אָרָבּ רֶשֲׁא וֹתְּכאַלְמ לָכִּמ תַבָשׁ וֹב יִכּ ,וֹתֹא .תוֹשֲׂעַל םיִהֹלֱא In a whisper: It was evening, and it was morning, the sixth day. The heavens and the earth and all they contain were completed. With the seventh day, God had finished the work, ceasing on that seventh day from all the creative work that God had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on that day, God rested from all the work of Creation.
On weekday evenings, start Kiddush here. (On Friday night, include the words in parentheses):
םָלוֹעָה ךֶלֶמ וּניֵהֹלֱא הוהי הָתּאַ ךוּרָבּ .ןֶפָגַּה יִרְפּ אֵרוֹבּ ‚הוהי הָתּאַ ךוּרָבּ ‚םָלוֹעָה ךֶלֶמ וּניֵהלֱא ‚םָע לָכִּמ וּנָֽבּ רַחָבּ רֶשֲׁא ‚ןוֹשָׁל לָכִּמ וּנָֽמְמוֹרְו .ויָתֺוְצִמְבּ וּנָֽשׁדִּקְו תֶא הָבֲהאְַבּ ‚וּניֵהלֱא הוהי ‚וּנָֽל ןֶתּתַּו (םוֹי תֶאְו הֶזַּה תָבּשַּׁה) םוֹי ‚הֶזַּה ןוֹרָכִּזַּה ‚(הָבֲהאְַבּ) הָעוּרְתּ (ןוֹרְכִז) םוֹי ‚שֶׁדֹֽק אָרְקִמ .םִיָֽרְצִמ תאַיִציִל רֶכֵז ‚ָתְּרַחָב וּנָֽב יִכּ ‚םיִמַּעָה לָכִּמ ָתְּשַׁדִּק וּנָֽתוֹאְו .דַעָל םָיַּקְו תֶמֱא ךְרָבְדוּ
‚ץֶרֽאָָה לָכּ לַע ךֶלֶמ ,הוהי הָתּאַ ךוּרָבּ לֵאָרְשִׂי (ְו תָבּשַּׁה) שׁדַּקְמ .ןוֹרָכּזַּה םוֹיְו Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Majesty of the world, who creates the fruit of the vine. Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Majesty of the world, who has chosen and distinguished us among all people and tongues, making us holy through Your commandants. Lovingly, Adonai, our God, You have given us (this Shabbat and) this Day of Remembrance, this holy day of gathering, a day of (recalling) the shofar blast (with love), a reminder of the exodus from Egypt. For out of all the nations You chose us and made us holy. Your faithful word endures forever. Blessed are You, Adonai, Majesty of all the land, who sanctifies (Shabbat and) Israel and the Day of Remembrance.
When Rosh HaShanah occurs on Saturday night, add the following blessings with a lit Havdalah candle or (two candles with their flames touching) while looking at the candlelight reflecting off your fingernails:
Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, who makes a distinction between holy and mundane, between light and darkness, between Israel and the nations of the world, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Blessed are You, Adonai, who makes a distinction between holy and mundane. You have made a distinction between the holiness of Shabbat and the holiness of the festivals. You imbued the seventh day with a sanctity above the six days of work. You have distinguished and sanctified Your people Israel with Your holiness. Blessed are You, Adonai, who distinguishes between holiness and holiness.
On both nights of Rosh HaShanah, recite the Shehecheyanu blessing:
םָלוֹעָה ךֶלֶמ וּניֵהֹלֱא הוהי הָּתאַ ךוּרָּב .הֶזַּה ןַמְזַּל וּנָעיִגִּהְו וּנָמְיִּקְו וּנָיֱחֶהֶשׁ Blessed are You, Adonai, our God, Majesty of the world, who has given us life, and sustained us, and brought us to this time.
Drink from the wine or the grape juice, and then share it with any others who’d like some.
