Waiting after kiddush before eating

Hi,

One should not have a long gap between kiddush and the start of one's meal; kiddush is supposed to be part of the meal.

However:
1. Where the wait is necessary because of an element of the meal - such as where many people need to wash their hands in the netilat yadayim rite - then there is no problem.

2. Even if one did have a substantial wait, kiddush is still valid. [Rivivot Ephraim does not present a maximum. - MT]

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:199)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kiddush before davening, for women

Hi,

If a single woman eats before praying Shacharit (the permissibility of doing so is a different question) on Shabbat or Yom Tov, she should recite kiddush.

The status of a married woman is different, because she and her husband are legally bound to eat together, and so before davening might not be termed "the time for eating" to require kiddush.

The status of men is entirely different, because it is clear that men may not eat before davening, other than in unique situations of illness.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:101:2)

Gmar tov,
Mordechai

Multiple Kiddushes?

Hi,

Eating a small meal with kiddush fulfills one's obligation.

Therefore, if a person recites Kiddush, eats some food and then chooses to eat another meal in another room or another house, he does not recite Kiddush again. (One may recite the daytime Kiddush at as many meals as one wishes, but the nighttime Kiddush should not be repeated.)

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 273:2; Mishneh Berurah 273:9-10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eating soon after kiddush

Hi,

As we have discussed, Kiddush is supposed to eaten with a meal. "With a meal" is understood both spatially and - temporally. One should eat something right after Kiddush, without a major gap in time.

One who does end up waiting some time between Kiddush and eating need not recite Kiddush again.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 273:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Eating before Kiddush on Friday night

Hi,

We have been learning about the Mitzvah of making Kiddush on Friday night.

We have already said that one should recite Kiddush immediately upon arriving home, unless all of the prospective participants are not hungry.

Additionally, one may not taste anything after sunset on Friday, before Kiddush. This even includes a drink of water; once the sun sets, the obligation to make Kiddush begins.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 271:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kiddush vs. Sh'ma

Hi,

We have been learning about making Kiddush on Friday night.

Maariv [the evening service] on Friday night is generally recited close to sunset, which creates a problem: The earliest time to fulfill one's nightly obligation to recite Shema is after the stars have emerged, which is usually measured as 36 minutes or more after sunset. Therefore, we need to repeat Shema when we return home from the synagogue. So which do we do first: Recite Shema, or Kiddush?

There are several fine points within this debate, but at bottom it is appropriate to repeat Shema when one comes home from shul, before Kiddush, lest one forget about Shema in the course of the meal.

(Mishneh Berurah 267:6 and 271:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kiddush on Friday night

Hi,

The mitzvah of reciting Kiddush on Friday nights fulfills a biblical command: "Remember the day of Shabbat, to sanctify it." We sanctify Shabbat at its entrance with Kiddush, and at its exit with Havdalah.

One who is not hungry immediately at the start of Shabbat may recite maariv [the evening service] and then wait before eating; he has already sanctified the Shabbat at its start via prayer.

Of course, one whose family and guests are hungry should recite Kiddush and begin the meal immediately.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 271:1; Mishneh Berurah 271:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai