Note 30 — II. OUR DUTIES. (continued 2)

There is a traditional explanation of the term zachor: ‏זכרהו על היין‎ “remember it over the wine.” As “wine gladdens the heart of man” and forms an important element in a festive meal, it has been ordered that our meal on the eve30 of Sabbath and Festival should be begun with a cup of wine in honour of the day, and that mention should be made of the holiness of the day before partaking of the wine. The Kiddush consists of two blessings (‏ברכות‎): one over the wine,31 and one that refers to the holiness of the day. On Holy-days—except the last days of Passover—a third blessing (‏שהחינו‎) follows, praising God for having granted us life and enabled us again to celebrate the Festival. On Friday evening a portion from Genesis (i. 31 to ii. 3) is added, which contains the first mention of the institution of Sabbath. If a Festival happens to fall on Sunday, we add part of the Habhdalah to the Kiddush on Saturday evening,32 referring to the distinction between the holiness of the Sabbath and that of the Festivals.