Shabbat Blessings at Home
 

Lighting Candles

 
Click on the image for a printable copy of the text or the notes to hear the blessing.

Candles should be lit no later than 18 minutes before sundown.

At least two candles should be lit, representing the dual commandments to remember and to keep the Sabbath. The candles are lit by the woman of the household. After lighting, she waives her hands over the candles, welcoming in the Sabbath. Then she covers her eyes, so as not to see the candles before reciting the blessing, and recites the blessing. The hands are then removed from the eyes, and she looks at the candles, completing the mitzvah of lighting the candles.

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam

You are praised Adonai our God, ruler of the universe

Asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Shabbat. Amen

Whose commandments add holiness to our lives
and who gave us the commandment to kindle the Shabbat lights.

Kiddush

 
Click on the image for a printable copy of the text or the notes to hear the blessing.

Kiddush is recited while holding a cup of wine. If wine or grape juice is not used, you should substitute she-ha-kol niyeh bidvaro (by whose will all things come to be) for borei p’riy ha-gafen (who creates the fruit of the vine).

Friday Night Kiddush



Vay'hi erev vay'hi boker yom hashishi
And there was evening and there was morning the sixth day

Vay'chulu ha-shamayim v'ha-aretz v'chol tzva'am
The heavens and the earth were finished, the whole host of them

Vay'chal Elochim ba-yom ha-shvi'i melachto asher asah
And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made

Vayishbot bayom hashi'i melachto asher asah
and he rested on the seventh day from all his work he had made

Vay'ivarech Elochim et yom ha shvi'i vay'ikadesh oto
And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it

Ki vo Shabat mikol melachto asher bara Elochim la'asot
Because in it he had rested from all his work which God had created and done

Baruch ata Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, boreh p'ri hagefen. Amen.
You are praised Adonai our God, ruler of the universe who creates the fruit of the vine.

Ha-Motzi

 
Click on the image for a printable copy of the text or the notes to hear the blessing.

Immediately after washing hands and before eating, the head of the household removes the cover from the two challah loaves, lifting them while reciting the following blessing.

Baruch ata Adonai Elocheinu melech ha'olam
You are praised Adonai our God, ruler of the universe

Hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz. Amen
Who brings forth bread from the earth.

The challah is then torn into pieces or sliced and passed around the table, so that each person may have a piece.
The family meal may then begin.