This beautiful rendition of Hashkivenu by Craig Taubman is a soulful way to create space for Shabbat. It is part of the evening service asking for the Divine’s protection, holding us in the loving sheltering wings of Her peace.
Shabbat Shalom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUTiKtCS23c
Welcome Shabbat with Six13’s rendition of Lecha Dodi
Shabbat Shalom to everyone on this Tenth Day of the Omer!
Nava Tehila performs a soulful rendition of Yedid Nefesh, the beautiful poem we use to welcome Kabbalat Shabbat. Written by Eleazar Azkiri in the 16th century, Yedid Nafesh is considered to be a love song to God based on an acrostic for God’s name, each stanza begins with one of the four letters of the Divine Name. (the youtube link will take you to other Nava Tehila songs after Yedid Nefesh- enjoy them all)
Wishing everyone Shabbat Shalom
Although this piece was produced last year, it is worth sharing with you now as we welcome Shabbat HaGadol, the Shabbat immediately preceding Pesach. This is the Key Tov Orchestra featuring Elliot Dvorin at their schmaltzy best. It’s a little Vegas combined with tunes from our wonderful holiday. It seems somehow fitting that this East meets West happens in Daley Plaza in downtown Chicago. Enjoy!
Wishing everyone Shabbat Shalom and a zissen Pesach!
Shalom Aleichem- Peace be with you, our traditional liturgical greeting of Shabbat dating back to the mystics of Tzfat (Safed) from the 16th or 17th century.
The story goes that two angels accompanied us on our way back home from the synagogue for Shabbat Dinner on Friday night. If the home was ready for Shabbat, the good angel blessed that next Shabbat it should also be so, and the bad angel would respond “Amen”. If the house was not ready for Shabbat, the roles were reversed.
Turn up the sound a bit and listen to the very talented Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein and the group Nefesh Mountain welcome Shabbat with some Bluegrass singing Shalom Aleichem.
May this Shabbat bring respite, rest, and rejuvenation.
As this week draws to a close, listen to the Gat Brothers combine their voices and their wonderful guitars sharing their rendition of Lecha Dodi.
Enjoy and Shabbat Shalom
This past weekend, I had the honor of attending a wedding. In typical Orthodox fashion, it seemed the immediate world was invited. Friends and family from across the globe came to celebrate. It was an evening of unbridled joy; food and drink were in abundance, but most importantly there was dancing and music.
The Tisch was raucous and the men escorted the groom in a fever pitch of singing and dancing so he could veil his bride. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the crowd gathered to the chuppah to escort bride and groom out with the same energy and fervor.
The band was amazing, keeping everyone on dancing for almost the entire evening. The large dance floor was crowded to overflowing. At first, I tried to watch from the sidelines, clapping to the beat of the music, but an elderly chossid grabbed my hand and pulled me into the circle of other old men dancing and jumping in merriment.
The entire spectrum of Jewish practice was in attendance Sunday night. We were all united in the joy and celebration of a wedding, that magical moment of hope and light shining in a world so desperately in need of it, the central message of the Sheva Brachot. It was amazing to behold and to participate. May it always be so.
Shabbat Shalom
Gad Elbaz beautifully sings the final verse of Lecha Dodi, welcoming the bride to the music of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Enjoy.
I have just returned from Mt. Carmel Cemetery to provide presence and support to the volunteers who came here. I was moved, being with people honoring the past and affirming their identities.
As Americans and Jews, we arise with a sense of unity and rededication of purpose. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, we stand arm in arm with all victims of hatred and domestic terrorism. Our values bring us together.
Although disturbing acts underlie this awakening of spirit, we need to focus on the good that has come from these cowardly and ugly actions. From ugliness comes beauty, from despair comes hope, from aloneness comes community, and from hatred comes love.
We stand together against hate.
Hate has no home here.
Shabbat Shalom.
Six13 helps bring in this Shabbat rocking the Shabbos Project- getting all of us to celebrate Shabbat.
Shabbat Shalom!
