Happy hour: The Communal Kiddush and its roles in the Synagogue World.

Despite its prevalence, the 20th-century communal kiddush ritual in synagogues remains understudied. This article addresses the gap by analyzing its purposes, connection to the prayer service, and impact on religious and social aspects. Drawing on Bakhtin, Gluckman, and Turner, this study explores how its carnivalesque elements challenge norms while reinforcing the synagogue. Additionally, it investigates kiddush's liminality and significance. The Kiddush ritual is pivotal, encapsulating values, ethos, and processes. Culinary practices within it function as an encrypted language, unveiling insights into the synagogue's central social role and the significance of food in shaping communities and religious belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]