QIDDŪŠ. – “Sanctification” of the beginning of the Sabbath and feast day with a blessing over a cup of wine.
It was performed at the end of the Friday evening prayer and at the end of the Sabbath morning prayer, in the synagogue; in time, before the two meals (Friday evening and Saturday at noon), in the families. The q. was recited by the head of the family or his representative (e.g., the eldest son). At the end of the Sabbath and festivals, the prayer of “distinction,” habhdālōh, between sacred and working time, was recited over wine.
BIBL.: I. Elbogen, Gesch. des jüd. Gottesdienstes, 2ª ed., Francoforte s. M. 1924, V. indice; M. Zobel, Das Jahr der Juden in Brauch und Liturgie, Berlino 1936, p. 21 ff. Eugenio Zolli