In Jewish tradition, the Friday night Kiddush serves as a spiritual mechanism to separate and elevate the Jewish people from the 70 nations of the world, represented historically by the archetypal sibling rivalries of Esau (Edom) and Ishmael.
The Torah commands: “You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together” (Deuteronomy 22:10). In Jewish mysticism (the Zohar), this law is a warning about global history. It indicates that if the spiritual forces of Eisav and Yishmael were to unite or “plow together,” their combined power could destroy the entire world
Eisav (Shor / Ox): Symbolizes brute strength, worldly power, and the pursuit of domination. However, the Ox also has a holy dimension, representing Moshiach ben Yosef (the Messiah connected to physical labor, building, and Jewish survival).
Yishmael (Chamor / Donkey): Symbolizes raw materialism, unbridled desires, and the stubborn resistance to spiritual restraint. Despite this, the Chamor also possesses a holy side, representing Moshiach ben Dovid (who famously rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, signifying humility).
The connection between these concepts is deeply rooted in Kabbalah and Jewish philosophy:
- The Symbolism of Wine: The numerical value (gematria) of the Hebrew word for wine (yayin) is 70, which parallels the 70 nations. Reciting the blessing over wine elevates the number 70 into a state of holiness.
- The 70 Words of Kiddush: Mystical texts like the Zohar point out that the Friday night Kiddush often corresponds in word count to the 70 root nations. By reciting it, the Jewish people symbolically bind and elevate these earthly forces of the world into the realm of the sacred.
- Separating Esau and Ishmael: Because Shabbos is inherently a day of peace and divine harmony, it acts as a metaphysical boundary that keeps the chaotic, external hostilities of the “70 nations”—often personified in Rabbinic literature by Esau (who stands for Rome/Western civilization) and Ishmael (the Islamic world)—from destroying the Jewish people



