We know that kiddush is important, and we know that we're supposed to make the blessing with wine. What is so special about kiddush, though? Why are there so many rules for how to do it, and why are we so strict about what we're allowed to use?
The text below comes from the Talmud, in a discussion where the rabbis are arguing about what the verse "Remember the Sabbath day" means as they discuss how we're supposed to do just that.
The Sages taught about this verse: “Remember the day of Shabbat to sanctify it” (Exodus 20:7).
They said this means we should remember it over wine, through the recitation of kiddush.
This makes me think that there is a mitzva to recite kiddush only during the day, because the verse is referring to the day of Shabbat.
How do I know that one must also recite kiddush at night? The verse states: “Remember the day of Shabbat to sanctify it,” which means that one should also remember Shabbat as soon as it is sanctified (made holy or blessed).
What are the two questions the rabbis are trying to answer here? How do they answer them, and how do they justify their answers?
What's so special about wine? The Book of Psalms says it pretty clearly:
וְיַ֤יִן ׀ יְשַׂמַּ֬ח לְֽבַב־אֱנ֗וֹשׁ...
Wine makes the hearts of people happy...
What about folks who don't drink wine, or kids who can't drink wine? Can they make kiddush?
Unfermented wine directly from the wine press may be used for Kiddush. [In other words, grape juice.]
Indeed, a person may squeeze a cluster of grapes and recite Kiddush over its juice.
The picture below is an ancient wine press uncovered in Israel. The grapes were crushed on the top, flat part. The juice would run down through the central, square hole and into the large cistern (holding pit).
Image Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/1600-year-old-stone-wine-presser-found-in-ramat-negev-500669
Back to our discussion in the Talmud, the rabbis are arguing whether or not it's ok to use something other than wine for kiddush.
The Sages taught: One may recite kiddush only over wine, and one may recite blessings only over wine.
The Gemara expresses surprise: Is that to say that one does not say the blessing: By Whose word all things [shehakol] came to be, over beer and water?
Abaye said: This is what the baraita [teaching] is saying: One only says, "bring a cup of blessing to recite the blessing" over wine.
The Rabbis taught in a baraita: One may not recite kiddush over beer.
In the name of Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Shimon, they said that one may recite kiddush over beer.
Why is the Gemara's response one of surprise? What is the exception it points to in their question? Without reading further, do you think other drinks, like beer, should be allowed to be used for kiddush? Why or why not?
Written about a thousand years after the Talmud, the Shulchan Arukh is a very practical, no-nonsense guide for how to put Jewish laws into practice. Here the S.A. discusses what to do if there is no wine around and how that might change the Shabbat rituals.
במקום שאין יין מצוי י"א שמקדשין על שכר ושאר משקין חוץ מן המים וי"א שאין מקדשין ולהרא"ש בלילה לא יקדש על השכר אלא על הפת ובבקר יותר טוב לקדש על השכר שיברך עליו שהכל קודם ברכת המוציא שאם יברך על הפת תחלה אין כאן שום שינוי ודברי טעם הם:
Wherever wine is uncommon, there are those who argue we can say Kiddush over liquor and other beverages, except for water. And there are those who say we cannot say Kiddush over these.
According to the Rosh, on Friday night, one should say Kiddush over bread and not liquor; and on Saturday, it is better to say Kiddush over liquor, so that they will bless "SheHaKol" before "HaMotzi", because if one said Kiddush over bread initially, there would be no change here (from the Friday night blessing), and these are the reasons.
If there is no wine, how do the rituals and the order on Friday night differ from Saturday day time? Why are they different?
Back to the Talmud, we get a story to prove a point: It's ok to use beer for kiddush because Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, one of the greatest scholars of the time, did it.
לוי שדר ליה לרבי שיכרא בר תליסר מגני טעמיה הוה בסים טובא אמר כגון זה ראוי לקדש עליו ולומר עליו כל שירות ותושבחות שבעולם בליליא
The Gemara tells a story about when Levi sent Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi a beer of thirteen soakings. This was considered a high-quality beer.
Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi tasted it and it was especially pleasant. He said: A beer like this is fit to recite kiddush over and to say upon it all the songs and praises in the world, as it is as good as wine.
Can you rephrase Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi's approach into your own words? How does he justify using something other than wine for kiddush?
We move back into the future now to learn from Rambam, who gave us a very practical guide for how to put these rules into practice.
אָסוּר לְאָדָם לֶאֱכל אוֹ לִשְׁתּוֹת יַיִן מִשֶּׁקָּדַשׁ הַיּוֹם עַד שֶׁיְּקַדֵּשׁ. וְכֵן מִשֶּׁיָּצָא הַיּוֹם אָסוּר לוֹ לְהַתְחִיל לֶאֱכל וְלִשְׁתּוֹת וְלַעֲשׂוֹת מְלָאכָה אוֹ לִטְעֹם כְּלוּם עַד שֶׁיַּבְדִּיל. וְלִשְׁתּוֹת מַיִם מֻתָּר.
One must not eat anything or drink wine once the Sabbath has arrived until they have recited the Kiddush blessing...one may, however, drink water.
Why do you think we don't eat or drink anything before kiddush?
The Kiddush should be recited only where the meal is served. This means that a person is not to recite the Kiddush in one house and eat in another; but if they have recited the Kiddush in one corner of a room, they may eat in another corner.
Why then is the Kiddush recited in the synagogue? For the benefit of the people who eat and drink there instead of at home.
How does one make [kiddush]? They take a cup that holds a reviit [a specific measurement] or more, rinses it on the inside, washes it on the outside and fills it with wine.
Then one holds it in their right hand and lifts it a handbreadth or more from the ground—and does not assist [his right hand] with his left hand. They recite the blessing, "on the vine," and then recites Kiddush.
But it is a custom that has spread to all of Israel to read from the beginning of the section, "And God completed" [Vayechulu] (Genesis 2:1).
And [only] then does one recite the blessing on the wine and recites Kiddush afterwards; then drinks [enough] to fill the cheek and gives all of the members of the group to drink.
And afterwards they wash their hands, recites the blessing, "who brings forth [bread]" and eats.