In an earlier edition of Daily Halacha (see "Customs for When One Arrives Home From the Synagogue on Friday Night", dated Dec. 7th 2009), we discussed some of the customary procedures performed before the recitation of the Friday night Kiddush, based on the teachings of the Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in Parashat Bereshit (Shana Sheniya, 29). We noted the custom to smell Hadasim with a Beracha and to encircle the table twice, before returning to one’s place and preparing for Kiddush.
In preparing for Kiddush, the Ben Ish Hai writes, one should receive the Kiddush cup from somebody else at the table with both hands, and bring it near his chest. At that point, he should remove his left hand from the cup, such that he holds it with only his right hand. Then, some water should be poured into the Kiddush cup to dilute the wine, a process called "Meziga." This should preferably be done by somebody else at the table, but if this is not possible, then the one reciting Kiddush should perform the Meziga with his left hand. Meziga is performed by pouring three drops into the Kiddush cup, in three separate stages. The water should not be poured all at once, but rather in three separate drops. The Ben Ish Hai emphasizes that this is the proper custom to follow, and those who observe this practice are worthy of blessing.
After the Meziga, one should look into the Kiddush cup. The Ben Ish Hai mentions profound Kavanot (Kabbalistic insights) that scholars of Kabbala would have while looking into the cup. For us, though, it suffices to have in mind to look at the wine with the right eye, and think of the numerical value of the word "Ayin" ("eye") – 130 – which is five times the numerical value of the Divine Name of "Havaya" , and also the left eye. It is also customary to look at the "Mesah" {forehead}, and think of the numerical value of this word (138), which is the same as the numerical value of the word "Haslaha" ("success").
The Ben Ish Hai adds several "Le’shem Yihud" and "Yehi Rason" prayers to be recited at the various stages of this process, several of which are found in the Siddurim.
One should endeavor to observe as many of these practices as possible. More importantly, however, these customs reflect the great stature afforded to Kiddush, how every stage in the process of preparing for Kiddush has the capacity to bring sanctity and blessing down from the heavens onto everyone at the table.
