Hilchot Kiddush
Learn with Rabbi Dr Stuart Fischman. Twice on Shabbat a Jew makes kiddush: once in the evening after Shabbat begins and a second time on Shabbat morning. Does each have a different purpose? Can Kiddush be made over anything other than wine? Who is obligated in Kiddush and can it be said in a different language? Kiddush is not something to be taken lightly. In this course we will explore the foundations of Kiddush and the halachot from the Gemara down through contemporary poskim.
Hilchot Kiddush: Lesson 1
I hope you enjoy this course and will have a deeper understanding of the mitzvah when you make your own kiddush. Two quick thoughts before we begin: Kiddush comes from the Hebrew root קדש which means “sanctification” but we do not actually sanctify. The sanctification of the seventh day of the week was done by Hashem Himself. Furthermore, Rav Yakov Emden zt”l in his commentary to the Siddur says that before we say Kiddush we need to say וידוי because Kiddush is our testimony that Hashem created the world. Certain sins disqualify a person as a witness, therefore we must say וידוי before Kiddush so that our testimony is valid.
Hilchot Kiddush: Lesson 3
In order to learn about the proper time to say Kiddush we need to have already accepted that Shabbat has begun. In this session we will explore the question of whether the lighting of Shabbat candles is an act which marks the acceptance of Shabbat and the machloket which surrounds the issue.
Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. In 1989 he began studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar and now studies and teaches at Yeshivat Machanaim in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.