- Shabbat is a unique type of rest - it is rest without inactivity, it is renewal without changing ourselves or the world
- A new lens on the world, time is holy, not 'space', rest is change, altering course, regaining our footing and focus in the swirl of 'to do's' or routines
- Renewal through appreciation of the world, blessings as we find them - not avoidance, but building up strength to respond
The meaning of the Sabbath is to celebrate time rather than space. Six days a week we live under the tyranny of things of space; on the Sabbath we try to become attuned to holiness in time. It is a day on which we are called upon to share in what is eternal in time, to turn from the results of creation to the mystery of creation; from the world of creation to the creation of the world.
AJ Heschel The Sabbath
To make a change, to transition we need to make changes - otherwise, we're like a car going forward, to change direction we have to gently push brakes and turn the wheel:
- What tools does our tradition suggest for making the transition from weekday to Shabbat?
The Kabbalat Shabbat prayers - prayers for welcoming Shabbat are designed to help us make the transition
Structure of our Kabbalat Shabbat:
- Shalom Alechem - greeting the angels of Shabbat
2. Psalms - 95-99 and 29, God's Kingship/Rulership established and creation completed under God's guidance
3. Lecha Dodi - by Shelomo Ha'Levi Alkabetz
(א) לְ֭כוּ נְרַנְּנָ֣ה לַה' נָ֝רִ֗יעָה לְצ֣וּר יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ׃ (ב) נְקַדְּמָ֣ה פָנָ֣יו בְּתוֹדָ֑ה בִּ֝זְמִר֗וֹת נָרִ֥יעַֽ לֽוֹ׃ (ג) כִּ֤י אֵ֣ל גָּד֣וֹל ה' וּמֶ֥לֶךְ גָּ֝ד֗וֹל עַל־כׇּל־אֱלֹקִֽים׃ (ד) אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּ֭יָדוֹ מֶחְקְרֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְתוֹעֲפֹ֖ת הָרִ֣ים לֽוֹ׃ (ה) אֲשֶׁר־ל֣וֹ הַ֭יָּם וְה֣וּא עָשָׂ֑הוּ וְ֝יַבֶּ֗שֶׁת יָדָ֥יו יָצָֽרוּ׃ (ו) בֹּ֭אוּ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֣ה וְנִכְרָ֑עָה נִ֝בְרְכָ֗ה לִֽפְנֵי־ה' עֹשֵֽׂנוּ׃ (ז) כִּ֘י ה֤וּא אֱלֹקֵ֗ינוּ וַאֲנַ֤חְנוּ עַ֣ם מַ֭רְעִיתוֹ וְצֹ֣אן יָד֑וֹ הַ֝יּ֗וֹם אִֽם־בְּקֹל֥וֹ תִשְׁמָֽעוּ׃ (ח) אַל־תַּקְשׁ֣וּ לְ֭בַבְכֶם כִּמְרִיבָ֑ה כְּי֥וֹם מַ֝סָּ֗ה בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ (ט) אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִ֭סּוּנִי אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּ֝חָנ֗וּנִי גַּם־רָא֥וּ פׇעֳלִֽי׃ (י) אַרְבָּ֘עִ֤ים שָׁנָ֨ה ׀ אָ֘ק֤וּט בְּד֗וֹר וָאֹמַ֗ר עַ֤ם תֹּעֵ֣י לֵבָ֣ב הֵ֑ם וְ֝הֵ֗ם לֹא־יָדְע֥וּ דְרָכָֽי׃ (יא) אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי בְאַפִּ֑י אִם־יְ֝בֹא֗וּן אֶל־מְנוּחָתִֽי׃ {פ}
(1) Come, let us sing joyously to the LORD,
raise a shout for our rock and deliverer; (2) let us come into His presence with praise;
let us raise a shout for Him in song! (3) For the LORD is a great God,
the great king of all divine beings. (4) In His hand are the depths of the earth;
the peaks of the mountains are His. (5) His is the sea, He made it;
and the land, which His hands fashioned.
(6) Come, let us bow down and kneel,
bend the knee before the LORD our maker, (7) for He is our God,
and we are the people He tends, the flock in His care.
O, if you would but heed His charge this day: (8) Do not be stubborn as at Meribah,
as on the day of Massah, in the wilderness, (9) when your fathers put Me to the test,
tried Me, though they had seen My deeds. (10) Forty years I was provoked by that generation;
I thought, “They are a senseless people;
they would not know My ways.” (11) Concerning them I swore in anger,
“They shall never come to My resting-place!”
The Psalms refer to God in the masculine as King - Lecha Dodi creates the unity with a feminine image of God as Kalah/Bride-Queen, leading to Divine unity, the universe is 'whole', what was broken and shattered at creation is whole and renewed again
Kabbalah of Isaac Luria
| Let’s go, my beloved, to meet the bride, | Lekha dodi liqrat kallah | לכה דודי לקראת כלה | |
| 2 | Let us welcome the presence of Shabbat. | p'ne Shabbat neqabelah | פני שבת נקבלה |
| Verse 1: | |||
| 3 | "Safeguard" and "Remember" in a single utterance, | Shamor v'zakhor b'dibur eḥad | שמור וזכור בדבור אחד |
| 4 | We were made to hear by the unified God, | hishmiʿanu El hameyuḥad | השמיענו אל המיחד |
| 5 | God is one and God’s Name is one, | Adonai eḥad ushemo eḥad | ה' אחד ושמו אחד |
| 6 | In fame and splendor and praiseful song. | L'Shem ul'tiferet v'lit'hilah | לשם ולתפארת ולתהלה |
| Verse 2: | |||
| 7 | To greet Shabbat let’s go, let's be gone, | Liqrat Shabbat lekhu v'neLekha | לקראת שבת לכו ונלכה |
| 8 | For she is the wellspring of blessing, | ki hi m'qor haberakhah | כי היא מקור הברכה |
| 9 | From the start, from ancient times she was chosen, | merosh miqedem nesukhah | מראש מקדם נסוכה |
| 10 | Last made, but first planned. | sof maʿaseh b'maḥashavah teḥilah | סוף מעשה במחשבה תחלה |
| Verse 3: | |||
| 11 | Sanctuary of the king, royal city, | Miqdash melekhʿir melukhah | מקדש מלך עיר מלוכה |
| 12 | Arise! Leave from the midst of the turmoil; | Qumi tz'i mitokh ha-hafekhah | קומי צאי מתוך ההפכה |
| 13 | Long enough have you sat in the valley of tears | Rav lakh shevet b'emeq habakha | רב לך שבת בעמק הבכא |
| 14 | And He will take great pity upon you compassionately. | v'hu yaḥamol ʿalayikh ḥemlah | והוא יחמול עליך חמלה |
| Verse 4: | |||
| 15 | Shake yourself free, rise from the dust, | Hitnaʿari me'afar qumi | התנערי מעפר קומי |
| 16 | Dress in your garments of splendor, my people, | Livshi bigde tifartekh ʿami | לבשי בגדי תפארתך עמי |
| 17 | By the hand of Jesse’s son of Bethlehem, | ʿAl yad ben Yishai bet ha-laḥmi | על יד בן ישי בית הלחמי |
| 18 | Draw near to my soul; redeem it. | Qorvah el nafshi g'alah | קרבה אל נפשי גאלה |
| Verse 5: | |||
| 19 | Rouse yourselves! Rouse yourselves! | Hitʿoreri hitʿoreri | התעוררי התעוררי |
| 20 | Your light is coming, rise up and shine. | Ki va orekh qumi ori | כי בא אורך קומי אורי |
| 21 | Awaken! Awaken! Utter a song, | ʿUri ʿuri shir daberi | עורי עורי שיר דברי |
| 22 | The glory of the Lord is revealed upon you. | K'vod Adonai ʿalayikh niglah | כבוד ה' עליך נגלה |
| Verse 6: | |||
| 23 | Do not be embarrassed! Do not be ashamed! | Lo tevoshi v'lo tikalmi | לא תבושי ולא תכלמי |
| 24 | Why be downcast? Why groan? | Mah tishtoḥaḥi umah tehemi | מה תשתוחחי ומה תהמי |
| 25 | All my afflicted people will find refuge within you | bakh yeḥesu ʿaniye ʿami | בך יחסו עניי עמי |
| 26 | And the city shall be rebuilt on her hill. | v'nivnetah ʿir ʿal tilah | ונבנתה עיר על תלה |
| Verse 7: | |||
| 27 | Your despoilers will become your spoil, | V'hayu limshisah shosayikh | והיו למשסה שאסיך |
| 28 | Far away shall be any who would devour you, | V'raḥaqu kol mevalʿayikh | ורחקו כל מבלעיך |
| 29 | Your God will rejoice concerning you, | Yasisʿalayikh Elohayikh | ישיש עליך אלהיך |
| 30 | As a groom rejoices over a bride. | Kimsos ḥatan ʿal kalah | כמשוש חתן על כלה |
| Verse 8: | |||
| 31 | To your right and your left you will burst forth, | Yamin usmol tifrotzi | ימין ושמאל תפרוצי |
| 32 | And the Lord will you revere | V'et Adonai taʿaritzi | ואת ה' תעריצי |
| 33 | By the hand of a child of Peretz, | ʿAl yad ish ben Partzi | על יד איש בן פרצי |
| 34 | We will rejoice and sing happily. | V'nismeḥah v'nagilah | ונשמחה ונגילה |
| Verse 9: | |||
| 35 | Come in peace, crown of her husband, | Boi v'shalom ateret baʿalah | בואי בשלום עטרת בעלה |
| 36 | Both in happiness and in jubilation | Gam b'simḥah uvetzoholah | גם בשמחה ובצהלה |
| 37 | Amidst the faithful of the treasured nation | Tokh emune ʿam segulah | תוך אמוני עם סגלה |
| 38 | Come O Bride! Come O Bride! | Boi khalah boi khalah | בואי כלה בואי כלה |
- Lecha Dodi 'opens the door' for Shabbat to come into the world
- What might be a reason it can be difficult to transition into Shabbat?
- Shabbat is observed to remember God resting after creation, why does God choose to rest at that time?
- Shabbat is also observed to remember going free from Egypt, what does freedom from slavery have to do with Shabbat as a day of rest and renewal?
(1) A psalm. A song; for the sabbath day. (2) It is good to praise the LORD,
to sing hymns to Your name, O Most High, (3) To proclaim Your steadfast love at daybreak,
Your faithfulness each night (4) With a ten-stringed harp,
with voice and lyre together.
(5) You have gladdened me by Your deeds, O LORD;
I shout for joy at Your handiwork. (6) How great are Your works, O LORD,
how very subtle Your designs! (7) A brutish man cannot know,
a fool cannot understand this: (8) though the wicked sprout like grass,
though all evildoers blossom,
it is only that they may be destroyed forever.
(9) But You are exalted, O LORD, for all time.
(10) Surely, Your enemies, O LORD,
surely, Your enemies perish;
all evildoers are scattered. (11) You raise my horn high like that of a wild ox;
I am soaked in freshening oil. (12) I shall see the defeat of my watchful foes,
hear of the downfall of the wicked who beset me. (13) The righteous bloom like a date-palm;
they thrive like a cedar in Lebanon; (14) planted in the house of the LORD,
they flourish in the courts of our God. (15) In old age they still produce fruit;
they are full of sap and freshness, (16) attesting that the LORD is upright,
my rock, in whom there is no wrong.
(2) Who is this who darkens counsel,
Speaking without knowledge? (3) Gird your loins like a man;
I will ask and you will inform Me.
(4) Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations?
Speak if you have understanding. (5) Do you know who fixed its dimensions
Or who measured it with a line?
(1) The LORD is king,
He is robed in grandeur;
the LORD is robed,
He is girded with strength.
The world stands firm;
it cannot be shaken. (2) Your throne stands firm from of old;
from eternity You have existed. (3) The ocean sounds, O LORD,
the ocean sounds its thunder,
the ocean sounds its pounding. (4) Above the thunder of the mighty waters,
more majestic than the breakers of the sea
is the LORD, majestic on high. (5) Your decrees are indeed enduring;
holiness befits Your house,
O LORD, for all times.
Themes of the Shema:
- Creation
- Revelation
- Redemption
(א) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה'. אֱלקֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם. אֲשֶׁר בִּדְבָרו מַעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים. בְּחָכְמָה פּותֵחַ שְׁעָרִים. וּבִתְבוּנָה מְשַׁנֶּה עִתִּים וּמַחֲלִיף אֶת הַזְּמַנִּים. וּמְסַדֵּר אֶת הַכּוכָבִים בְּמִשְׁמְרותֵיהֶם בָּרָקִיעַ כִּרְצונו. בּורֵא יום וָלָיְלָה. גּולֵל אור מִפְּנֵי חשֶׁךְ וְחשֶׁךְ מִפְּנֵי אור. וּמַעֲבִיר יום וּמֵבִיא לָיְלָה. וּמַבְדִּיל בֵּין יום וּבֵין לָיְלָה. ה' צְבָאות שְׁמו: אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם תָּמִיד יִמְלוךְ עָלֵינוּ לְעולָם וָעֶד: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים:
Praised are You Adonai our God...setting out the succession of seasons, and arranging the stars in the sky according to Your will....You create day and night, rolling light away from darkness and darkness away from light, and separate between day and night...
- Separation/mavdil - havdalah
(א) אַהֲבַת עולָם בֵּית יִשרָאֵל עַמְּךָ אָהָבְתָּ. תּורָה וּמִצְות חֻקִּים וּמִשְׁפָּטִים אותָנוּ לִמַּדְתָּ. עַל כֵּן ה' אֱלקֵינוּ בְּשָׁכְבֵנוּ וּבְקוּמֵנוּ נָשיחַ בְּחֻקֶּיךָ. וְנִשמַח בְּדִבְרֵי תורָתֶךָ וּבְמִצְותֶיךָ לְעולָם וָעֶד: כִּי הֵם חַיֵּינוּ וְארֶךְ יָמֵינוּ וּבָהֶם נֶהְגֶּה יומָם וָלָיְלָה: וְאַהֲבָתְךָ אַל תָּסִיר מִמֶּנּוּ לְעולָמִים. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה'. אוהֵב עַמּו יִשרָאֵל:
...we will delight in the words of your Torah and mitzvoth always...they are our life and the length of our days...
- God shows love through the giving of Torah/mitzvot
- Repetition of day - time
(א) וֶאֱמוּנָה כָּל זאת וְקַיָּם עָלֵינוּ. כִּי הוּא ה' אֱלקֵינוּ וְאֵין זוּלָתו. וַאֲנַחְנוּ יִשרָאֵל עַמּו: הַפּודֵנוּ מִיַּד מְלָכִים. מַלְכֵּנוּ הַגּואֲלֵנוּ מִכַּף כָּל הֶעָרִיצִים. הָאֵל הַנִּפְרָע לָנוּ מִצָּרֵינוּ. וְהַמְשַׁלֵּם גְּמוּל לְכָל אויְבֵי נַפְשֵׁנוּ: הָעושה גְדולות עַד אֵין חֵקֶר. נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאות עַד אֵין מִסְפָּר.
(ב) הַשּם נַפְשֵׁנוּ בַּחַיִּים. וְלא נָתַן לַמּוט רַגְלֵנוּ: הַמַּדְרִיכֵנוּ עַל בָּמות אויְבֵינוּ. וַיָּרֶם קַרְנֵנוּ עַל כָּל שונְאֵינוּ: הָעושה לָּנוּ נִסִּים וּנְקָמָה בְּפַרְעה. אותות וּמופְתִים בְּאַדְמַת בְּנֵי חָם.
(ג) הַמַּכֶּה בְעֶבְרָתו כָּל בְּכורֵי מִצְרָיִם. וַיּוצֵא אֶת עַמּו יִשרָאֵל מִתּוכָם לְחֵרוּת עולָם: הַמַּעֲבִיר בָּנָיו בֵּין גִּזְרֵי יַם סוּף. אֶת רודְפֵיהֶם וְאֶת שונְאֵיהֶם בִּתְהומות טִבַּע. וְרָאוּ בָנָיו גְּבוּרָתו. שִׁבְּחוּ וְהודוּ לִשְׁמו: וּמַלְכוּתו בְּרָצון קִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם. משֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשרָאֵל לְךָ עָנוּ שִׁירָה בְּשמְחָה רַבָּה. וְאָמְרוּ כֻלָּם:
(ד) מִי כָמכָה בָּאֵלִים ה'. מִי כָּמכָה נֶאְדָּר בַּקּדֶשׁ. נורָא תְהִלּות עשה פֶלֶא:
(ה) מַלְכוּתְךָ רָאוּ בָנֶיךָ. בּוקֵעַ יָם לִפְנֵי משֶׁה. זֶה אֵלִי עָנוּ. וְאָמְרוּ: ה' יִמְלךְ לְעלָם וָעֶד: וְנֶאֱמַר. כִּי פָדָה ה' אֶת יַעֲקב. וּגְאָלו מִיַּד חָזָק מִמֶּנּוּ: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה'. גָּאַל יִשרָאֵל:
...Liberating us from Rulers...from all enemies...who gives out punishment from our enemies...
...Who is like You Ado-na among the mighty...
...Blessed are You...Who liberated Israel...
(א) הַשכִּיבֵנוּ ה' אֱלקֵינוּ לְשלום. וְהַעֲמִידֵנוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ לְחַיִּים וּפְרוש עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שלומֶךָ. וְתַקְּנֵנוּ בְּעֵצָה טובָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ. וְהושיעֵנוּ מְהֵרָה לְמַעַן שמֶךָ. וְהָגֵן בַּעֲדֵנוּ: וְהָסֵר מֵעָלֵינוּ אויֵב דֶבֶר וְחֶרֶב וְרָעָב וְיָגון. וְהָסֵר שטָן מִלְפָנֵינוּ וּמֵאַחֲרֵינוּ. וּבְצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ תַּסְתִּירֵנוּ. כִּי אֵל שומְרֵנוּ וּמַצִּילֵנוּ אָתָּה. כִּי אֵל מֶלֶךְ חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם אָתָּה: וּשמור צֵאתֵנוּ וּבואֵנוּ לְחַיִים וּלְשלום מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עולָם: וּפְרוש עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שלומֶךָ. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' הַפּורֵש סֻכַּת שלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל עַמּו יִשרָאֵל וְעַל יְרוּשלָיִם:
(1) Help us, Lord, to lie down in peace, and awaken us again, our Sovereign, to life. Spread over us Your shelter of peace; guide us with Your good counsel. Save us because of Your mercy. Shield us from enemies and plague, from starvation, sword, and sorrow. Remove the evil forces that surround us. Shelter us in the shadow of Your wings, O G-d, who watches over us and delivers us, our gracious and merciful Ruler. Guard our coming and our going; grant us life and peace, now and always. Spread over us the shelter of Your peace. Praised are you, Lord, who spreads the shelter of peace over us, over all G-d's people Israel, and over Jerusalem.