Rishon Rishon

Shvi`i Shel Pesah

Tonight is Shvi`i Shel Pesah (שביעי של פסח) - The Seventh of Passover. It is not its own holiday, but the last day day of the seven-day Passover holiday. Nevertheless, unlike hol hamo`ed (חול המועד) - the mundane (as opposed to holy) intermediary days of the holiday, it is a day on which m'akha (מלאכה) - usually translated as 'work', though 'fabrication' would be more precise, is forbidden.

Since this year Shvi`i Shel Pesah falls on Shabat, there is not much left to distinguish it. On thing, however, is its special qidush.

On every Sabbath and holiday we say qidush (קידוש) - sanctification. It is a blessing, and a declaration of the sanctity of the day. Qidush for holidays are similar to each other, the only difference being the name of the holiday, and a short description of it. The qidush for the Sabbath, though, is mostly different. Eyn qidush ela’ bimqom s`uda (אין קידוש אלא במקום סעודה) – there is no qidush except in the place of a festive meal (Talmud Bavli P'sahim 101A), therefore, the blessing for qidush is always accompanied by a blessing for bread or wine. (The first item of a festive meal.) Here is the text of tonight's qidush:

ברוך אתה ה' אלוהינו מלך העולם
בורא פרי הגפן

ברוך אתה ה' אלוהינו מלך העולם
אשר בחר בנו מכל עם
ורוממנו מכל לשון
וקידשנו במיצוותיו
ותיתן לנו ה' אלוהינו באהבה
שבתות למוחה ומועדים לשמחה חגים וזמנים לששון
את יום השבת הזה ואת יום חג המצות הזה
זמן חירותנו
 באהבה מקרא קודש
זכר ליציאת מצריים
כי בנו בחרת ואותנו קידשת מכל העמים
ושבת ומועדי קודשך
באהבה וברצון בשמחה ובששון הנחלתנו
ברוך אתה ה' מקדש השבת וישראל והזמנים

Baruch ata a-donay eloheynu melekh ha`olam
Bore' pri hagafen

Baruch ata a-donay eloheynu melekh ha`olam
Asher bahar banu mikol `am
V'rom'manu mikol lashon
V'qidshanu b'misvotav
Vatiten lanu a-donay eloheynu b'ahava
Shabtot limnuha umo`adim l’simha hagim uzmanim l'sason
Et yom hashabat haze v'et yom hag hamsot haze
Zman herutenu
B'ahava miqra' qodesh
Zekher lisi'at misrayim
Ki vanu vaharta v'otanu qidashta mikol ha`amim
V'shabat umo`adey qodsh'kha
B'ahava uvrason b'simha uvsason hinhaltanu
Barukh ata a-donay m'qadesh hashabat v'yisra’el v'hazmanim

Blessed are you O Lord our God king of the universe
Creator of the fruit of the vine

Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe
Who has chosen us from among the peoples
And lifted us up from every tongue
And sanctified us with his commandments
And give us, O Lord our God, with love
Sabbaths for rest, special times for happiness, holidays and festivals for joy
This Sabbath day and this holiday of matzas
The time of our freedom
With love, a holy calling
A remembrance of the exodus from Egypt
Because you have chosen us and sanctified us from among the peoples
And the Sabbath and special times of your holiness
With love and desire, with happiness and joy, you have made our inheritance
Blessed are you, O Lord, who sanctifies the Sabbath and Israel and the festivals

As you can see, sanctification (qidush) is a recurring theme in the qidush blessing. The Sabbath is sanctified, the holiday is sanctified, even the Jewish people are sanctified. What does this mean, sanctification? In Judaism, at least, it means: To set aside for a holy purpose.