Jewish Relationships Initiative

Tag: Shabbat

  • Shabbat Shalom

    The gifted Shai Sebbag shares Shalom Aleichem on his guitar.

     

    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.

    Peace upon you, ministering angels, messengers of the Most High,                                      of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
    Come in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,                                     of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
    Bless me with peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,                           of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
    May your departure be in peace, messengers of peace, messengers of the Most High,       of the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
    Translation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shalom_Aleichem_(liturgy)

  • Shabbat Shalom

    Rabbi Rayzel Raphael Rocks in Shabbat with Psalm 95

    Enjoy and Shabbat Shalom

  • Shabbat Shalom

     

    Ana Becoach, or Ana Becoaj, is a Kabbalistic prayer invoking the power of the Divine Name.  The prayer is seven lines of six words each, the first letter of each word spelling the 42 letter name of the Almighty.  Written in the  second century by the Kabbalist Rabbi Nehonia.  It is traditionally sung before Lecha Dodi during Kabbalat Shabbat.

    The phrase “untie the knot” may refer to exile in both its physical and spiritual sense.  As we enter Shabbat we hope to begin experiencing its expansiveness.  The plea reflects the mystical view that the forces of judgment, constriction, and negativity should not have power or authority on Shabbat. ( Siddur Lev Shalem, p. 22)

    Shabbat Shalom

  • Daylight Savings Shabbat

    Daylight Savings Shabbat

    Persistence of Memory-Dali
    Persistence of Memory-Dali

    We turn back the clock this weekend. The extra one hour of sleep isn’t such a big deal, I thought I would be much more excited if we were turning it back by about 20 years. But that is not the case. In fact, trading the past twenty years for the experiences during that time is not something I would do. I like who I have been becoming (I am still a work in progress) and the past twenty years have been an integral part of getting here.

    Without those twenty, I likely would not be a rabbi nor would I be married to my wife Naomi, to name just two wonderful things that help define me now. The period was not without struggle and real challenges in all aspects of life, but these challenges also helped to shape me into the person that I am today. Today, I wish perhaps that the ground was not so far away when I drop things, or my arms did not have to be so much longer to read things, or that there was more hair to comb. But the blessings I enjoy I wouldn’t trade for any of those (although the hair makes me briefly pause).

    So I come to this Shabbat with a sense of gratitude for what I have and I will use that extra hour to catch up on some sleep after a long workweek and a Saturday night spent with my wife.

    Shabbat Shalom!

  • Shabbat Shalom

    Lo Yaavod- A great music video based on the commentary of Rabbi Obadia by Yaakov Shwekey.  A translation of the lyrics is below.

    It is a message of brotherhood, love and Klal Yisrael- a great way to start Shabbat.

    Shabbat Shalom

    Do not be as slaves

    Do not be as slaves who serve their master for the sake of reward.
    One should serve his Creator solely out of love.
    (Mishnah Avot, C – commentary of Rabbi Obadiah)
    Do not be as slaves who serve their master
    for the sake of reward.
    A man should not serve
    A man should not serve his Creator
    Unless out of love
    Unless solely out of love
    Alone

  • Shabbat Shalom

    Welcoming Shabbat with Shlomo Carlebach’s L’Cha Dodi

    Shabbat Shalom

     

  • Yehi Shalom- Shabbat Shalom

    Yehi Shalom- Shabbat Shalom

    Yehi Shalom

    A wish for peace performed by Neshama Carlebach and Josh Nelson.

    ~Shabbat Shalom

     

     

  • Shabbat Shalom

    On March 2, Steven Colbert and the cast of Fiddler on the Roof got together for some fun on the set of The Late Show.  It’s a fun way to welcome Shabbat.

    Shabbat Shalom

  • Shabbat Shalom with a Gospel back

    Joshua Nelson, one of our extraordinary gifts, brings his Gospel style to Lecha Dodi to help us welcome Shabbat. Imagine the Shabbat bride entering to this!  It’s get up out of your seat and dance time.  Shabbat Shalom!

  • Shabbat Shalom

    As we enter Shabbat, I wanted to share this beautiful soulful rendition of Hashkiveinu, the prayer of our evening service asking for Divine protection and peace.

    Shabbat Shalom