The Shaare Rahamim Haggada

Chapter 18: Kadesh

Kadesh – קדש
We begin the Pesah Seder with the recitation of Kiddush and the drinking of the first of the four cups of wine, the Arba Kosot.

Order of Kiddush
 
There are three parts to Kiddush recited on the Seder night:

1. Hagefen – הגפן
2. Kiddush – קדוש
3. Sheh-heh-heh-yanu – שהחיינו

A. When reciting the berachah of Sheh-heh-heh-yanu, one should have in mind all of the other mitzvot of the Seder night (i.e., matzah, marror). 
B. If one inadvertently omitted the berachah of Sheh-heh-heh-yanu during Kiddush, he may say it at any time that he remembers throughout the holiday.

 

Manner of Reciting Kiddush 

A. The head of the household should recite Kiddush and have in mind to be motzee (help others fulfill their obligation) all those assembled.
B. Everyone should stand the entire time and answer “Amen” at the completion. 
C. One should not respond “Baruch Hu U’baruch Shemo” during Kiddush. However, if he did, he still fulfilled his obligation.  If he did not answer “Amen,” he also fulfilled his obligation. 
D. If the leader will not recite the Kiddush clearly or did not have the others in mind, everyone should quietly recite the Kiddush to themselves.

Who is Obligated? 

A. Men and children who have reached the age that they understand the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim are obligated in the mitzvah of Kiddush and the other cups of wine as well. 
B. Women are obligated in the mitzvah of Kiddush as well as the other mitzvot of the Seder, for they too were redeemed from Egypt.

Required Amounts of Wine

A. The required amount of wine is a rivi’it (3 ounces). 
B. If this is difficult, he may be lenient  to drink only 1.5 ounces.
C. It is preferable to drink most of the cup’s contents, therefore it is advisable to use only a cup that holds about three ounces.  (Yet, if he has no choice, he may use a larger cup and drink three ounces of it.) 
D. Children, who have reached the age that they understand the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim, are only required to drink a cheekful (1 oz.).

 

Manner of Drinking 

A. When drinking the wine, one is obligated to recline on the left side as a sign of nobility. 
B. We lean specifically on the left side for two reasons;
        1. It is difficult to eat and drink with our left hand, as would be the case if we were to lean on the right.
        2. It is possible that as a result of leaning on the right, food may become stuck in the trachea, has v’shalom. Therefore, left-handed people are also required to lean on the            left side. 
C. According to our Sephardic custom, women are also obligated to recline. 
D. It is permitted to lean on another person’s knees, but not on his own, as he may appear worried. 
E. A student may only recline in the presence of his rebbe with permission. 
F. A son may recline in his father’s presence even if he is his rebbe.
G. In the presence of a great Torah giant, muflag b’doro, one may only recline with permission, even if the Gadol is not his rebbe.
H. A mourner is also required to lean, however, he should do so in a manner which shows humility. 
I. If one is unable to recline as a result of an injury, he is exempt from this obligation. 
J. One should be conscious to drink the four cups of wine in a “timely” manner – the normal time it takes to drink three ounces of wine.  However, if this is not possible,  he has up to four minutes.

In the Event Where One Forgot to Recline 
The leader of the Seder should remind all those present to recline prior to Kiddush because this can be easily forgotten.
A. In the event where one forgot to recline or reclined on his right side, he is required to drink another cup of wine without a berachah
B. A left-handed person who reclined on his right side need not drink an additional cup. 
C. A woman who forgot to recline or reclined on her right side need not drink an additional cup.
D. If one forgot to recline yet remembered only after completing Maggid, he must drink his second cup and after waiting a short period of time, he should drink another cup without a berachah, replacing the first.  Likewise, if he remembered right after drinking the third or fourth cup, he should wait a short period of time before drinking another cup of wine, replacing the previous cup.

Kiddush For A Weekday Night 
Kiddush is recited over the first cup of wine.

Everyone assembled raises their cup. The leader of the seder recites the Kiddush with the intention of being motzee (helping the others to fulfill their obligation) all those assembled

The members of the household must listen to the Kiddush with the intention of fulfilling the obligation of Kiddush. They answer Amen at the conclusion. 

The berachah of שהחינו is recited at the conclusion of Kiddush. One must have in mind the other mitzvot of the evening when saying it, i.e. mitzvot of matzah and marror.

Everyone must drink a rivi’it (3 ounces) of wine while leaning on their left side. One should be conscious to drink the four cups of wine in a “timely” manner – the normal time it takes to drink three ounces of wine.

 

 

Kiddush For Friday Night 

Kiddush is recited over the first cup of wine. 

Everyone assembled raises their cup. The leader of the seder recites the Kiddush with the intention of being motzee (helping the others to fulfill their obligation) all those assembled. 

The members of the household must listen to the Kiddush with the intention of fulfilling the obligation of Kiddush. They answer Amen at the conclusion.

The berachah of - שהחיינו ) is recited at the conclusion of Kiddush. One must have in mind the other mitzvot of the evening when saying it, i.e. mitzvot of matzah and marror.

Everyone must drink a rivi’it (3 ounces) of wine while leaning on their left side. One should be conscious to drink the four cups of wine in a “timely” manner – the normal time it takes to drink three ounces of wine.