Kiddush - Mitzvah Type

QUESTION: Is Kiddush on Friday night a mitzvah de’oraisa (a mitzvah from the Torah)?

ANSWER: The Rambam (Hilchos Shabbos 29:1,6) writes that there is a mitzvah from the Torah to sanctify Shabbos with words of praise and sanctification (zechiras shevach vekiddush), as stated in the pasuk, “Zachor es yom haShabbos le’kaddesho” (Shemos 20:8 – “Remember the day of Shabbos to sanctify it”). Chazal instituted that these words be recited over a cup of wine.

R. Akiva Eiger (OC 271:1) writes that the implication of some poskim is that reciting Kiddush over a cup of wine (or a loaf of bread) is a Torah obligation (See also Rashi Nazir 4a.) However, most poskim assume that one fulfills the Torah obligation of Kiddush with the beracha “mekadeish haShabbos” in Maariv. R. Akiva Eiger writes that even by saying “good Shabbos” one fulfills the Torah obligation of remembering Shabbos. However, the Beiur Halacha (271:2) argues: According to the Rambam’s definition, the mitzvah of kiddush requires words of praise and sanctification, not merely mentioning Shabbos. If one already davened Maariv (and according to Rebbi Akiva Eiger, if one said “good Shabbos”), reciting Kiddush on Friday night is a mitzvah de’Rabbanan. Nevertheless, the Beiur Halacha (271:13, s.v. shel revi’is) writes that one should use a large revi’is of wine for Kiddush Friday night since this mitzvah is rooted in the Torah.

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