Where did the Friday night custom of saying blessings over candles, wine, and challah come from? Why did these three specific blessings become a ritual?
Let’s begin with the most primary source – the fourth of the ten commandments:
“Remember (“Zachor“) the Sabbath to sanctify it…” (Exodus 20:8)
According to the Talmud, when the Torah tells us to “Zachor” (remember) something, it means to actively make ourselves aware of it by speaking about it. Thus, the above verse is the source for the mitzvah to say Kiddush on Friday night – which simply entails talking about the significance of the Sabbath. Parenthetically, the verse which tells us to “remember this day that you left Egypt” (Exodus 13:3) is the source for the mitzvah to speak about the Exodus on the night of Passover at the Seder – Hagaddah literally means ‘verbal declaration’.
Now, the mitzvah to “talk” about the Sabbath on Friday night is not the only thing the Sages of the Talmud derive from the word “Zachor” in the 4th commandment; twice in the Tanach we find that words that derive from the same root as “Zachor” are used together with a reference to wine:
“Those who dwell in His shade will return… and blossom like a vine; their repute (“Zichro” from the same root as “Zachor“) will be like the wine of Lebanon…” (Hosea 14:7)
“…We will praise (“Nazkirah” from same root as “Zachor“) your love more than wine…” (Song of Songs 1:4)
From the above juxtapositions of “Zachor” and wine, the Talmud derives that the act of “remembering” the Sabbath on Friday night has to be performed over a cup of wine.
There are 2 other obligations we must fulfill regarding the Sabbath – to honor it (“Kavod Shabbat“) and to take pleasure in it (“Oneg Shabbat“); both are declared in a single statement by Isaiah (48:13):
“…If you call the Sabbath a delight (“Oneg“) and God’s holy [day] honored (“Kavod“)… then you will delight in God and I will let you ride the heights of the Earth and enjoy the inheritance of your father Jacob…”
In response to these two components of Sabbath observance, the sages enacted a number of different obligations: Firstly, they said that every household must have candles burning in the house on the Sabbath – not as a religious ritual, but simply to serve as a source of light. Some commentators view this as a part of “Oneg Shabbat” – constantly tripping over things in a dark house is not exactly the best way to take pleasure in the Sabbath. Others claim that the candles are part of “Kavod Shabbat” because there can be no important and festive meal without light. Nowadays, even though we generally do not use the candles for light, we are still obligated to continue this practice with the blessing.
Another enactment deriving from the concept of “Oneg Shabbat“, is that we have an obligation to eat 3 substantial, festive, and delicious meals (preferably including meat and wine). These meals should take place Friday night, Sabbath day lunch, and another one just before the end of the day. Now, according to our sages, these meals must begin with a blessing over 2 loaves of bread. This is based on the verse in Exodus (16:22) which discusses the collection of the Manna after it fell:
“When Friday came, what they gathered turned out to be a double portion, two omer [a biblical measure] for each person”.
The 2 loaves of bread represent this double portion of Manna.
Finally, there is another concept that connects the “Kiddush” over the wine with the blessings over the bread. The Talmud tells us that the “Kiddush” must be recited in the place where one is going to eat. The Sages bring a support for this from the verse in Isaiah discussed above: “…If you call the Sabbath a delight…” The prophet is hinting to us that in the place where you “call the Sabbath” (i.e talk about it by reciting “Kiddush“), there should be the opportunity to delight (i.e with food).
I hope I’ve answered your question – if you need any further clarification, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Shabbat Shalom!
Yours sincerely,
Ari Lobel