"Kiddush Club" is a slang term applied wherever an informal group of people leave a synagogue's sanctuary during Jewish services on Shabbat (Saturday) morning to congregate, make kiddush (frequently over liquor) and socialize. Participants often leave services during the Haftorah reading or the sermon.
The practice was criticized by the Orthodox Union (OU) in December 2004, when the OU called for the elimination of such practices. OU Executive Vice President Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb criticized "Kiddush Clubs" for detracting from the honor of the synagogue, promoting gossip (lashon hara), and leading participants to return to services in a state of intoxication (all of which are violations of Jewish Law), further contributing to a shameful decorum and to the problem of substance abuse.
To avoid leaving synagogue prematurely, some Kiddush Clubs congregate in members' places of living after services have concluded. Kiddush Clubs can, in some cases, be very selective in who they accepts as members. Qualities that are looked upon favorably that can lead to an invitation a club can include: being able to "handle your alcohol"; stellar Divrei Torah; and analytical "tie-ins", whereby the individual will state how the lesson gleaned from the Parsha applies to Kiddush Club as well. Members take turns hosting the Club, as well as taking turns "sponsoring" the bottle to be imbibed.
Famous quotes containing the word club:
“Women ... are completely alone, though they were born and bred upon this soil, as if they belonged to another class in creation.”
—“Jennie June” Croly 1829–1901, U.S. founder of the woman’s club movement, journalist, author, editor. F, Demorest’s Illustrated Monthly Mirror of Fashions, pp. 363-4 (December 1870)