Hilchos Shabbos Table Learning
A Weekly Guide to Shabbos Laws for Personal Study and Family Discussion
✨This weeks Topic✨
🍷 The Biblical Roots of Kiddush
✨ What Is Kiddush?
Kiddush is the special blessing we say to welcome Shabbos on Friday night. It’s not just a beautiful tradition—it’s actually a mitzvah (commandment) from the Torah! When we say Kiddush, we’re doing what the Ten Commandments tell us: “Remember the Shabbos day to sanctify it.” That means we use our words to make Shabbos holy and special.
📜 The Halacha
- The Biblical Mitzvah: What, When, and Where?
- The Torah says: “Remember the Shabbos day to sanctify it” (Exodus 20:8).
- This means we must say words that make Shabbos holy, especially at the start of Shabbos (Friday night).
- Some rabbis say we also need to say something special when Shabbos ends (Havdalah), but others say that’s only a rabbinic (not Torah) command.
- The Kiddush we say on Shabbos day (Saturday) is also rabbinic, not from the Torah.
- On Yom Tov (Jewish holidays), Kiddush is always rabbinic.
Example:
- On Friday night, when you say the Kiddush blessing, you’re fulfilling the Torah commandment.
- On Shabbos day or Yom Tov, you’re following a rabbinic tradition.
- Why Do We Say Kiddush? (The Reason)
- The Sefer HaChinuch explains: By saying Kiddush, we remind ourselves and everyone listening that Hashem created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.
- Saying Kiddush helps us remember that G-d is the Creator and the Boss of everything!
- The rabbis added wine to Kiddush because drinking something special makes our hearts happy and helps us feel the holiness of Shabbos even more.
Example:
- When you say Kiddush over grape juice or wine, it’s not just about the drink—it’s about making the moment feel joyful and important, so the words of Kiddush go deep into your heart.
- How Do We Fulfill Kiddush? (Details & Examples)
1️⃣ The Main Thing: Words!
- The mitzvah is fulfilled just by saying words that make Shabbos holy.
- You don’t need wine or bread to fulfill the basic Torah command—just words!
- The rabbis later added the custom of saying Kiddush over wine to make it more special.
Example:
- If you’re stuck somewhere without wine, you can still fulfill the mitzvah by saying the Kiddush words.
2️⃣ What Should You Say?
- Any words that praise Shabbos and talk about its holiness count for the mitzvah.
- There’s no set formula from the Torah—you can say “Shabbos Shalom,” “Boiy Kalah,” or verses like “Vayechulu.”
- Some rabbis say you should mention the Exodus from Egypt, but others say it’s not required.
Example:
- Even saying “Good Shabbos!” with the intention to honor Shabbos can count.
3️⃣ Daily Reminders
- Some rabbis say it’s good to remember Shabbos every day, which is why we say “Zachor” (remember) in the daily prayers.
- That’s also why we greet each other with “Shabbos Shalom” on Shabbos!
👧🧑 For Kids: Kiddush in Simple Words
- Kiddush means “making Shabbos special with words.”
- We say Kiddush on Friday night to welcome Shabbos, usually over grape juice or wine.
- The most important part is saying the words that make Shabbos holy.
- The drink is there to make it feel extra special and happy!
Example:
- When you help your family say Kiddush, you’re doing a mitzvah straight from the Ten Commandments!
📝 Summary Table
| What? | Torah or Rabbinic? | How? | Example |
| Friday Night Kiddush | Torah (Biblical) | Say words to sanctify Shabbos | “Vayechulu,” Kiddush blessing |
| Shabbos Day Kiddush | Rabbinic | Say Kiddush over wine | Kiddush before lunch |
| Yom Tov Kiddush | Rabbinic | Say Kiddush over wine | Kiddush on Passover night |
| Havdalah | Disputed | Say words at Shabbos end | Havdalah ceremony |
Sources:
See Admur 271:1-4; M”A 271:1; Rambam Shabbos 29:1; Pesachim 1061; Shemos 20:6; Sefer Hachinuch Mitzvah 26; Rambam sefer Hamitzvos Asei 155; Tosafus Sukkah 38a; Pesachim 106a; M”B 271:2
🛠️ Melacha Corner 🛠️
🏋️♂️ Exercising on Shabbos: Halacha, Reasons & Examples
📜 The Halacha – What’s Allowed and What’s Not?
❌ Forbidden: Sweaty Workouts for Health or Weight Loss
It is forbidden to exercise on Shabbos in ways that make you sweat for healing or health reasons, like losing weight or staying in shape. This includes activities like pushups, sit-ups, weightlifting, and similar workouts.
Reason:
The Sages made a rule against this because they worried people might end up grinding and drinking special herbs to help them sweat, which is not allowed on Shabbos.
🧑⚖️ Reasons Behind the Rules
- Sweaty exercise for health: Not allowed because it might lead to doing things that are forbidden on Shabbos, like preparing herbal medicines.
- Pleasure vs. health: If you’re just enjoying yourself (not trying to get healthy or lose weight), some rabbis are more lenient, but most say it’s best to avoid.
- Special cases: If someone is very sick and needs therapy to avoid getting worse, it may be allowed.
👧🧑 For Kids: Simple Examples
- Doing jumping jacks to get strong? ❌ Not on Shabbos!
- Squeezing a ball because your hand hurts? ✅ That’s okay!
- Singing or practicing breathing? ✅ Go for it!
- Lying under a blanket to get cozy and sweaty? ✅ Allowed!
- Lying in the sun just for fun? 🤔 Ask your rabbi—some say yes, some say no.
Sources:
Admur 328:47; Tzitz Eliezer 12:45; SSH”K 16 footnote 99; Piskeiy Teshuvos 328:34
📝 Summary Table
| Activity | Allowed? | Reason/Details | Example |
| Pushups, sit-ups, weightlifting | ❌ No | Forbidden if done to sweat for health/weight loss, even if you enjoy it | Doing pushups to get fit |
| Physiotherapy | ❌ No | Only allowed if you are bedridden or very weak in your whole body | Therapy for someone very ill |
| Hand exercises | ✅ Yes | Allowed, even to relieve pain, since these don’t make you sweat | Squeezing a stress ball |
| Voice box/breathing exercises | ✅ Yes | Allowed, since there’s no sweating in inner limbs | Singing or breathing practice |
| Sweating under blankets | ✅ Yes | Allowed, even if you sweat, since it’s not exercise | Bundling up to get warm |
| Suntanning | 🤔 Disputed | Some rabbis say it’s forbidden, others allow if done for pleasure and privately | Lying in the sun on Shabbos |
