Kiddush: Standing or Sitting?
Question
Why do some people stand for Kiddush and some sit?
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question.
In some families it is customary to stand when kiddush is recited Friday night, while in others the custom is to sit. Those who sit for kiddush do so based on the view that sitting for Kiddush better demonstrates that one’s upcoming meal is connected to the Kiddush, in other words, a more exacting fulfillment of "kiddush b'makom seuda", that kiddush must be recited in the same place where the meal is to be eaten. (1) Others say that the reason to sit is that since the “Vayechulu” passage was recited standing as part of Ma’ariv, it may now be reciting sitting as part of Kiddush. (2) Finally, when people are seated together they appear more as a unified group than when standing around randomly do.
On the other hand, those who stand for kiddush do so out of respect for Shabbat, which is compared to a bride, and it is explained that when we recite Kiddush we formally accept the “Shabbat bride.” (3) Standing for Kiddush has always been the custom of the Kabbalists. (4) Standing for Kiddush also seems to be supported by the Rambam who writes explicitly in the laws of Sukkot that when one recites kiddush on Sukkot one is to stand for the kiddush component and then sit for the "leishev basukka" blessing. (5) It was also the practice of the Arizal to stand for kiddush. (6)
Additionally, it is argued that the “vayechulu” paragraph is a type of testimony – testifying that God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh – and testimony must always be given while standing. (7) Once one is already standing for vayechulu, the custom evolved to remain standing for the rest of kiddush, as well. Furthermore, the first letter of the first four words of the kiddush ("Yom Hashishi Vayechulu Hashamayim") spell out the name of G-d which is reason enough to stand for kiddush.(8)
All customs are halachically valid.
Source
1 Pesachim 101; Kolbo 4; Mishna Berura 271:46.
2 Shulchan Aruch Harav, OC 271:19.
3 Bava Kamma 32b; Igrot Moshe, OC 5:16.
4 Aruch Hashulchan, OC 271:24.
5 Rambam, Hilchot Sukka 6:12; Mishna Berura 643:4.
6 Kaf Hachaim, OC 271:64; Shulchan Aruch Ha'arizal 271:6.
7 Mishna Berura 271:45.
8 Minhag Yisrael Torah, OC 271:12.