Q. Can a woman recite kiddush Friday night for her elderly father (who cannot say it himself) and for her daughters already bas mitzva, and other women guest, when her husband is not in town?
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 271: 2) rules that women can recite kiddush on men’s behalf, since they are obliged on the Biblical mitzva of kiddush. Although, Poskim disagree if women are included in “ar’bus” or mutual responsibility in the compliance of mitzvos, as men are. However, if she didn’t comply yet, Mishna Berurah (ibid. 4) and others permit a woman to recite kiddush even for men that are part of her family.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is similar.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a.