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If One Did Not Recite Kiddush on Friday Night

Halacha requires a person to recite Kiddush over a cup of wine on Friday night. This includes the recitation of "Vayechulu," the Beracha over the wine ("Boreh Peri Ha’gefen"), and the Beracha of "Mekadesh Ha’Shabbat." The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 271:8) rules that if a person, for whatever reason, did not recite Kiddush on Friday night, such as if he fell asleep without reciting Kiddush, then he must recite Kiddush the next day. Based on the ruling of the Rambam (Rabbi Moshe Maimonides, Spain-Egypt, 1135-1204), the Shulhan Aruch rules that this applies even if one intentionally missed Kiddush. As opposed to a missed prayer, which one makes up only if he neglected to pray unintentionally, the Friday night Kiddush can – and must – be recited on Shabbat day if one did not recite it on Friday night. The reason is because the obligation extends even until Shabbat day. One who did not recite Kiddush on Friday does not "make up" the missed Kiddush as one makes up a missed prayer, but rather still bears the original Kiddush obligation. As such, he must recite Kiddush on Shabbat day, even if he intentionally did not recite Kiddush.

In such a case, however, one begins Kiddush with "Sabri Maranan" and the Beracha over the wine; he does not recite "Vayechulu." The verses of "Vayechulu" tell of how G-d completed creation after six days, which is relevant only on Friday night. Therefore, if one did not recite Kiddush on Friday night and recites it on Shabbat day, he omits "Vayechulu" and begins from "Sabri Maranan." This is the ruling of the Rama (Rav Moshe Isserles of Cracow, 1525-1572) and the Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909).

The Halachic authorities address the case of a person who did not recite Kiddush on Friday night or during Shabbat day, and remembers to recite Kiddush during the period of Ben Ha’shamashot – the 13.5 minutes after sundown – on Shabbat afternoon. Should he recite Kiddush at that point, or is he unable to recite Kiddush since the sun had already set?

The Ben Ish Hai (Parashat Bereshit, 19) rules that the Halacha in this case depends on whether or not the person had recited one of the Shabbat prayers. Reciting a Shabbat prayer fulfills the Torah obligation of Kiddush, and what remains is the Rabbinic requirement to recite Kiddush over a cup of wine. Therefore, if one had recited one of the Shabbat prayers, but did not recite Kiddush until Ben Ha’shmashot, a period which we do not know whether to treat as day or night, he is in a situation of "Safek De’rabbanan" – a halachic uncertainty concerning a Rabbinic obligation. A famous rule allows one to rely on the lenient possibility in such situations, and thus the person in this case is not required to recite Kiddush again. Nevertheless, the Ben Ish Hai advises a person in this case to recite Kiddush without Hashem’s Name. But if the person had not recited Kiddush and had also not recited any of the Shabbat prayers, then the Torah obligation of Kiddush is at stake, and he is therefore obligated to recite Kiddush. This is also the ruling of the Hafetz Haim (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933), in Sha’ar Ha’siyun (271).

The question arises, however, as to how one is allowed to drink the wine in such a case, given the prohibition against drinking wine after sundown on Shabbat until reciting Habdala. The Sha’ar Ha’siyun suggests that this Halacha applies only if one is eating Se’uda Shelishit during "Ben Ha’shamshot," as eating and drinking are still permitted throughout the meal. Additionally, he adds, perhaps the Torah obligation of Kiddush overrides the Rabbinic prohibition against eating and drinking before Habdala. Hacham Ovadia Yosef adds another factor, namely, the fact that according to Rabbenu Tam (Rabbi Yaakob Ben Meir, France, 1100-1171), "Ben Ha’shamshot" does not begin until later, well after the 13.5-minute period after sunset. As such, the prohibition against eating during this period is subject to two halachic uncertainties – whether "Ben Ha’shamshot" is to be treated as daytime or nighttime, and whether this period is indeed "Ben Ha’shamshot." Therefore, we may allow drinking the wine in such a case for the purpose of fulfilling the Misva of Kiddush.

Hacham Ovadia further notes that in such a case, where one must recite Kiddush during "Ben Ha’shamshot," he must drink at least a "Rebi’it" of wine. Normally, one must drink only a "Melo Lugmav" (cheekful) of Kiddush wine, but in this case, since Halacha requires "Kiddush Bi’mkom Se’uda" – that Kiddush be recited in the context of a meal – one must drink a "Rebi’it" so the Kiddush will be considered to have been recited as part of a "meal" of sorts.

There is one view among the Poskim (the Orhot Haim) that if one did not recite Kiddush on Friday night, he must recite Kiddush twice on Shabbat day – the Friday night Kiddush, and the Shabbat morning Kiddush. Other Halachic authorities, however, including the Aruch Ha’shulhan (Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein of Nevarduk, 1829-1908), rule that the Friday night Kiddush which one recites on Shabbat day in this case suffices for both obligations. This is, indeed, the Halacha.

Summary: If one, for whatever reason, did not recite Kiddush on Friday night, he must recite the Friday night Kiddush on Shabbat day, but without the verses of "Vayechulu." This applies even if he intentionally missed Kiddush. If one had not recited Kiddush until after sundown on Shabbat, he is not then required to recite Kiddush, though if it is still within 13.5 minutes after sundown, he should preferably recite Kiddush without Hashem’s Name. If he had not recited any of the Shabbat prayers over the course of Shabbat, and it is still within 13.5 minutes after sundown, then he must recite Kiddush.

 


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