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Some people, although listening to another's kidush (Friday night), sing part of it along with him: specifically (in my experience), the lines starting "ki vanu vacharta" when recited with this tune. This seems to me arguably not to be a problem (see e.g. Mishna B'rura 690 s'if katan 13–14; but see the comments on this question). But I'm wondering whether there are any sources that discuss the issue.

As always, for practical halacha, consult your rabbi.

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    I do this sometimes but am careful to drop out again before the chatima. I don't remember where I learned that. Commented Jan 17, 2012 at 19:16
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    The megillah case is different because there it's just about your saying the words, whereas by kiddush you need to say it over a cup of wine. What I'm saying is that kiddush is not a pure case of shomea' ke'oneh.
    – Double AA
    Commented Jan 17, 2012 at 19:30
  • @DoubleAA, excellent point. I've edited the question.
    – msh210
    Commented Jan 17, 2012 at 19:48
  • I also fail to see what the Mishneh Berura reference has to do with kiddush. (Since by megillah, the reading must be from a kosher megillah, which is the context there). Perhaps you can explain in your question what the concern is?
    – Curiouser
    Commented Jan 17, 2012 at 20:07
  • @Curiouser, precisely: MB seems to be basing his tzad l'hachmir (in the case that someone reads along with the leader) on the fact that one must read from a scroll: seemingly, then, kidush would be okay.
    – msh210
    Commented Jan 17, 2012 at 20:56

2 Answers 2

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To attempt a different parallel, the Mishnah B'rurah in Siman 124, S"K 16 says that during the repitition of Sh'moneh Esrei, people should not sing along with the Sh'liach Tzibbur because it is k'yuhara and like kalus rosh.

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  • szk1210, welcome to the site, and thanks for the reference! I hope you stick around and enjoy the site.
    – msh210
    Commented Jan 18, 2012 at 19:24
  • +1. I wonder, though, whether either of those concerns is relevant here. Kalus rosh, in particular, is an issue for t'fila (and a synagogue): does it apply to kidush? And as for yuhara, well, I wouldn't know where to begin in determining what that concern applies to.
    – msh210
    Commented Jan 18, 2012 at 19:29
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I had always understood that one should not speak/sing along with the one reciting kiddush because of the principle of Trei Kali Lo Mishtamai” -- two voices cannot be heard simultaneously (see Megilla 21b).

The Star-K says this as well here when listing the conditions to fulfill one's obligation to hear kiddush

One must hear the entire Kiddush – One should not speak while listening and should not say “Baruch Hu U’Varuch Sh’mo.”

If one spoke, b’dieved, the following halachos apply: If while speaking one failed to hear a word that is integral to Kiddush (e.g. “Boruch” or “Hashem Elokeinu” after “Boruch Atoh”), one is not yotzai Kiddush. If one did not hear a word that is not integral (e.g. “Atoh” or “Kee hu yom”), one need not repeat Kiddush. [...] One should also not speak between Kiddush and drinking.

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  • I'm not sure why you boldfaced "If while speaking one failed to hear...". That's clearly not the case here. The one speaking during kidush didn't fail to hear anything, as he heard it by virtue of saying it (unless t're kale la mishtamae applies even of one of them is the hearer's own).
    – msh210
    Commented Feb 14, 2018 at 6:43
  • I understand the "If while speaking one failed to hear" to apply to the person who sings along with the kiddush leader. Therefore he risks failing to hear the kiddush leader as he "speaks over him".
    – mbloch
    Commented Feb 14, 2018 at 6:49
  • Worth noting MB 488:8 is not so worried about Trei Kali Lo Mishtamai when it comes to kiddush
    – Joel K
    Commented Apr 11, 2022 at 7:47

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