Related reading: Birkat HaMazon Printable PDF and Explanation and Avinu Malkeinu Printable PDF and Explanation.

The Friday-night Kiddush is the blessing that opens the Shabbat evening meal. Standing over a cup of wine, the family sanctifies the day: it declares that Shabbat is set apart, and it ties the table to two great memories — Creation and the Exodus from Egypt. This page offers a clear, family-friendly version of the Kiddush, with a short explanation of each part.

This page is original educational content and does not replace a siddur, community rite or halachic guidance. In many communities, psalms or introductory passages are added before the Kiddush according to local custom; this page focuses on the text of the Kiddush itself.

What Is the Shabbat Evening Kiddush?

The Kiddush ("sanctification") is a declaration, recited over wine, that sets Shabbat apart from the days of the week. On Friday night it has three familiar parts: Vaychulu, the verses from Genesis about the seventh day; the blessing over wine, Borei Peri HaGefen; and the blessing that sanctifies Shabbat, which recalls both the work of Creation and the going out of Egypt.

When Is the Kiddush Recited?

The Friday-night Kiddush is recited on Shabbat evening, before the night meal. It is said at the table, after returning from the synagogue or once the family is gathered, according to the custom of the home and community.

What Do You Need?

To recite Kiddush on Friday night, it helps to have:

Vaychulu

The Kiddush opens with Vaychulu, the verses from Genesis describing how God completed the work of Creation and blessed the seventh day. Here is the Hebrew text, a transliteration, and a translation.

יוֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁי. וַיְכֻלּוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ וְכָל צְבָאָם. וַיְכַל אֱלֹהִים בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, וַיִּשְׁבֹּת בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה. וַיְבָרֶךְ אֱלֹהִים אֶת יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ, כִּי בוֹ שָׁבַת מִכָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים לַעֲשׂוֹת.

Transliteration: Yom ha-shishi. Va-yechulu ha-shamayim ve-ha-aretz ve-khol tzeva'am. Va-yechal Elohim ba-yom ha-shevi'i melakhto asher asah, va-yishbot ba-yom ha-shevi'i mi-kol melakhto asher asah. Va-yevarekh Elohim et yom ha-shevi'i va-yekadesh oto, ki vo shavat mi-kol melakhto asher bara Elohim la-asot.

Meaning: The sixth day. And the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their array. On the seventh day God completed the work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all the work that He had done. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, for on it He rested from all His work that God had created to do.

These verses from Genesis link the Kiddush to the work of Creation.

The Blessing Over Wine

Next comes the blessing over the wine, Borei Peri HaGefen — the standard blessing said before drinking wine.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן.

Transliteration: Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, borei peri ha-gafen.

Meaning: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the vine.

This is the blessing of enjoyment recited over the wine.

The Blessing of Sanctification

The heart of the Kiddush is the blessing that sanctifies Shabbat. It thanks God for choosing Israel and giving the holy Shabbat with love, as a remembrance of Creation and of the Exodus from Egypt.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְרָצָה בָנוּ, וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשׁוֹ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחִילָנוּ, זִכָּרוֹן לְמַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. תְּחִלָּה לְמִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ, זֵכֶר לִיצִיאַת מִצְרָיִם, כִּי בָנוּ בָחַרְתָּ וְאוֹתָנוּ קִדַּשְׁתָּ מִכָּל הָעַמִּים, וְשַׁבַּת קָדְשְׁךָ בְּאַהֲבָה וּבְרָצוֹן הִנְחַלְתָּנוּ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ, מְקַדֵּשׁ הַשַּׁבָּת.

Transliteration: Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kideshanu be-mitzvotav ve-ratzah vanu, ve-Shabbat kodsho be-ahavah u-ve-ratzon hinchilanu, zikaron le-ma'aseh vereshit. Techilah le-mikra'ei kodesh, zecher li-tzi'at Mitzrayim, ki vanu vacharta ve-otanu kidashta mi-kol ha-amim, ve-Shabbat kodshecha be-ahavah u-ve-ratzon hinchaltanu. Barukh atah Adonai, mekadesh ha-Shabbat.

Meaning: Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who sanctified us with His commandments and favored us, and gave us His holy Shabbat, in love and favor, as an inheritance — a remembrance of the work of Creation; first of the holy convocations, a memory of the Exodus from Egypt. For You chose us and sanctified us from among all the peoples, and gave us Your holy Shabbat in love and favor as an inheritance. Blessed are You, Lord, who sanctifies Shabbat.

This blessing sanctifies the holy Shabbat and recalls both the creation of the world and the Exodus from Egypt.

What Should a Kiddush Printable Include?

A good printable sheet should be short, dignified and useful. For a family PDF, keep it to one clean page: the three parts of the Kiddush (Vaychulu, the blessing over wine, and the blessing of sanctification) with transliteration, plus a one-line note on when it is said. For a community version, add a short "local custom" note, since some communities add psalms or passages before the Kiddush.

Shabbat Quiz: Questions About the Kiddush

Use these short questions in a family or classroom quiz:

  1. On which night is this Kiddush recited?
  2. What are the three main parts of the Friday-night Kiddush?
  3. From which book of the Torah are the verses of Vaychulu taken?
  4. What is the blessing said over the wine?
  5. Which two great events does the Kiddush recall?

Suggested CTA: Open a family Shabbat quiz and add a "Kiddush" round — before the meal, take turns saying which part comes first, then recite the Kiddush together over the cup.

Source and License

Based on the Friday-night Kiddush text on Wikisource, under a CC BY-SA license. Reviewed on 2026-06-22 against Wikisource — Siddur Torah Or / Kiddush for Friday Night.

FAQ

Are there passages recited before the Kiddush?

Yes. In many communities psalms or introductory passages are added according to custom. This page focuses on the text of the Kiddush itself.

When is the Friday-night Kiddush recited?

The Kiddush is recited on Friday night, before the evening Shabbat meal, over a cup of wine or grape juice, with covered challot on the table.

What do you need for Kiddush?

A cup, wine or grape juice, covered challot, and a set Shabbat table. Customs vary, so follow the practice of your home and community.

What are the three parts of the Friday-night Kiddush?

Vaychulu (the verses from Genesis about the seventh day), the blessing over wine (Borei Peri HaGefen), and the blessing that sanctifies Shabbat and recalls Creation and the Exodus.