What is shabbat dinner blessings?

The Shabbat Friday night dinner opens with a set of blessings known as Kiddush (kidush — sanctification), recited over a cup of wine, followed by the blessing over bread (Hamotzi). These blessings formally inaugurate the Shabbat meal and fulfill the Torah commandment to "remember" the Shabbat day and keep it holy [Siddur Sefard, Shabbat Eve Kiddush 1, citing Exodus 20:8].

Key Takeaways

The Kiddush over wine is the central blessing that opens the Shabbat dinner, sanctifying the day with words and wine.
The biblical obligation to sanctify Shabbat verbally is fulfilled through the Shemoneh Esreh prayer; the home Kiddush over wine is rabbinic in origin.
Beit Hillel's ruling — blessing the wine before the blessing over the day — is the accepted practice today.
If no wine is available, Kiddush may be recited over two whole challot (Shabbat loaves) instead.
After Kiddush, hands are washed (netilat yadayim) and the blessing over bread (Hamotzi) is recited over two covered challot.

The Full Order of Shabbat Dinner Blessings

1. Shalom Aleichem & Eishet Chayil (Pre-meal)

Before sitting down to eat, many communities sing Shalom Aleichem (welcoming the Shabbat angels) and Eishet Chayil (Proverbs 31, praising the woman of the home). These are customs, not halachic requirements.

2. Kiddush — The Sanctification Blessing

Kiddush is the centerpiece of the Shabbat dinner blessings. Its source is the Torah commandment: "זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ" — "Remember the Shabbat day, to sanctify it" (Exodus 20:8) [Siddur Sefard, Shabbat Eve Kiddush 1].

The Kiddush consists of two blessings recited over a full cup of wine:

Borei Pri HaGafen — "Who creates the fruit of the vine" (blessing over wine)
Mekadesh HaShabbat — the blessing sanctifying the Shabbat day

The Famous Dispute: Which Blessing Comes First?

This is one of the most well-known disagreements between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel [Mishnah Berakhot 8:1]:

Beit Shammai say: Bless the day first, then the wine — because "the day causes the wine to come" and "the day has already been sanctified while the wine has not yet arrived" [Berakhot 51b; Pesachim 114a].
Beit Hillel say: Bless the wine first, then the day — because the wine is the vehicle that enables the Kiddush to be said.

Accepted halacha follows Beit Hillel — we bless the wine (Borei Pri HaGafen) first, then the blessing over the sanctity of the day.

Is Kiddush Biblical or Rabbinic?

"Most halachic authorities agree that the Scriptural command to proclaim the sanctity of the Shabbos is fulfilled by reciting the middle blessing of the Friday night Shemoneh Esreh. The command to recite the Kiddush at home, over wine, is rabbinic." [Siddur Sefard, Shabbat Eve Kiddush 2]

Kiddush Over Bread Instead of Wine

If wine is unavailable, one may recite Kiddush over two whole challot. In this case, the challot do not need to be covered, but hands must be washed and the blessing "Al Netilat Yadayim" recited before Kiddush [Siddur Sefard, Shabbat Eve Kiddush 6].

3. Netilat Yadayim — Ritual Hand Washing

After Kiddush, everyone washes their hands using a two-handled cup, pouring water alternately over each hand. The blessing recited is:

"בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה'... עַל נְטִילַת יָדַיִם" — "Blessed are You, Lord... Who has commanded us concerning the washing of hands."

It is customary to remain silent from this blessing until Hamotzi.

4. Hamotzi — Blessing Over the Challah

Two whole challot (lechem mishneh — double bread, recalling the double portion of manna in the desert) are placed on the table and covered during Kiddush. After hand-washing, the covering is removed, and the leader lifts the challot and recites:

"בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה'... הַמּוֹצִיא לֶחֶם מִן הָאָרֶץ" — "Blessed are You, Lord... Who brings forth bread from the earth."

The challah is then cut or torn and distributed to all present, often dipped in salt.

5. Birkat Hamazon — Grace After Meals

After the meal concludes, Birkat Hamazon (bentshing in Yiddish — Grace After Meals) is recited. On Shabbat, the special paragraph Retzeh is added, mentioning the sanctity of the day. If forgotten and one has already begun the final blessing, a corrective formula is inserted.

A Note on the Synagogue Kiddush

Historically, Kiddush was also recited in the synagogue on Friday night for travelers who ate and slept there [Siddur Sefard, Shabbat Eve Kiddush 3]. Today, this practice continues in many communities as a communal custom, though the primary Kiddush obligation is fulfilled at home.

For personal guidance on specific practices or customs in your community, consult your local rabbi or posek.