Kadesh—Reciting Kiddush and Entering Spiritual Mindset
Candle Lighting
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב.
You are Blessed, O God, Spirit of the World, who makes us holy with mitzvot and commands us to kindle the light of (Shabbat and of) the festival day.
Shehekheyanu
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמָן הַזֶּה.
Translation: Blessed are you, creator of the universe, who has kept us alive and sustained us and let us reach this time.
Kiddush
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן.
We raise our cups in a blessing:
Bless all these good things and rejoice!
Bless all the people we have touched, Bless the gardens we have tended, and the battles we have won.
Bless the steps we have taken, the decisions we have made. Bless our friends and allies.
Bless this night of reflection and remembrance, as we celebrate, each of us, the liberation from Mitzraim, the liberation of each and all of us, and
Bless our work for the liberation off all peoples!
Amen. So be it!
(Written by Harold Schulweis)