Kabbalat Shabbat: Welcoming Shabbat
Informative Articles & Videos
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Welcoming the Bride: Exploring the Songs of Kabbalat Shabbat
This link will take you to a six-part online audio course exploring the meaning behind the songs of Kabbalat Shabbat.
The Hadar Institute: The Content, Meaning and Music of Lecha Dodi
This link will take you to a three-part online audio course exploring the content, meaning, and music of Lecha Dodi,
The Structure & Mystical Meaning of Kabbalat Shabbat
This post presents two approximately 4 minute long videos by Rabbi David Paskin introducing the basic structure and meaning behind
The Structure and Spirit of the Kabbalat Shabbat Service
This brief article from Chabad.org describes the structure of the Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv even prayer services on Shabbat. With
The King and Queen in the Field: Reimagining a God Metaphor in Elul (Article & Poem)
The article and poem by Alden Solovy explore two traditional metaphors of God – the harsh King often seen throughout Bible,
L’cha Dodi and the Kabbalist Background to Kabbalat Shabbat: A Collection of Articles
This link will take you to a collection of articles exploring the Kabbalistic background to the Kabbalat Shabbat service, with
Guide to the Friday Night Synagogue Services
Great for beginners, this brief excerpt from “Friday Night and Beyond” by Lori Palatnik offers an explanation of the structure and meaning
Introduction to the Kabbalat Shabbat Prayer Service
This introductory article describes the origins and structure of the Kabbalat Shabbat services, noting various customs practiced in different communities.
Welcoming the Sabbath with Kabbalat Shabbat, Lecha Dodi and Ma’ariv
This introductory article by George Robinson outlines the basic structure of the Kabbalat Shabbat and evening prayer service, including an explanation
K’Gavna: A Kabbalistic Reading Following Kabbalat Shabbat
This post presents the Nusach Ha’Ari and Nusach Sefard tradition of reciting a passage from the Zohar called K’Gavna between
The Kabbalat Shabbat Experience Siddur: Guide, Text & Articles
This post presents a well-formatted, printable PDF booklet of the traditional Ashkenazi Kabbalat Shabbat service with the Hebrew, English and
Ana B’Ko’ach: A Musical Kabbalistic Meditation with On-Screen Text
This 6:26 minute long video produced by The Kabbalah Center provides deep mystical meditations based on the Kabbalistic secrets hidden within
Yedid Nefesh: Introduction & Audio
This post provides a brief introduction to the liturgical poem “Yedid Nefesh,” often sung by Ashkenazi congregations between the afternoon
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Customs
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A Reform Prayer for Kislev & Hannukah
This link opens up the Hebrew, English and transliterated text of a prayer that can be read from the beginning of the
Nusach Edot Hamizrach Kabbalat Shabbat Service (Hebrew Text)
This post presents the entire Edot Hamizrach Kabbalat Shabbat service in Hebrew, including the Song of Songs, which is traditionally
Siddur Livnat HaSapir for Welcoming Shabbat: A Personal Prayerbook by Aharon Varady
This link opens up a digitized version of Siddur Livnat HaSapir for Welcoming Shabbat, a complete Friday night prayerbook compiled by Aharon
Orthodox Ashkenazi Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma’ariv (Hebrew, English, Transliteration)
This post presents a well-formatted, printable PDF booklet of the traditional Ashkenazi Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv evening prayer service with
Yemenite Recitation of the Song of Songs
This 27 minute long audio recording presents the entire Song of Songs chanted according to Yemenite custom and pronunciation. One
Bameh Madlikin: Hebrew Text of Mishnah Recited on Friday Nights
In many Orthodox congregations (both Ashkenazi and Sephardic,) the second chapter of the Mishnah Tractate Shabbat is recited on Friday
Reform Kabbalat Shabbat Service
This link opens up the 2003 version of the UC-Berkeley Siddur for Shabbat. The Kabbalat Shabbat service (pages 1-19) includes some of
Humanistic Kabbalat Shabbat Service
This link opens up a Humanistic Kabbalat Shabbat Service (pages 4-17), which includes a selection of poems, prayers and songs in
Conservative Kabbalat Shabbat & Ma’ariv (Transliteration)
This 20 page PDF document contains an English transliteration of the entire evening service on Shabbat, including Kabbalat Shabbat, Ma’ariv,
Reconstructionist Kabbalat Shabbat (Hebrew & English)
This link will open up a digitized version of “The Sabbath Prayer Book,” the first Reconstructionist siddur to have entered the
Secular/ Humanist Kabbalat Shabbat Service
This Secular/Humanist Shabbat Service presents poems and prayers for Kabbalat Shabbat on pages 6-10. This section includes translations and transliterations of Hebrew/Yiddish
Renewal Kabbalat Shabbat Service
This excerpt from “Shabbat: A personal guide to the spiritual observance of Shabbat” presents the Kabbalat Shabbat service of the Beyt
Orthodox Kabbalistic Kabbalat Shabbat (Hebrew, English, Transliteration)
This 63 page PDF document contains the entire evening service on Shabbat, including Kabbalat Shabbat, Ma’ariv, and some additional prayers.
Audio Recordings of Ashkenazi High Holiday Liturgy
This link will take you to the musical prayer navigator of Mechon Hadar, where you can find audio recordings for each
Reconstructionist Kabbalat Shabbat Melodies
Click this link to hear different versions of songs from Kabbalat Shabbat, recorded by Bnai Keshet, a vibrant Reconstructionist congregation in
Spanish & Portuguese Kabbalat Shabbat Melodies
Click this link to hear songs from the Kabbalat Shabbat services of the Spanish & Portuguese Jews’ Congregation of London. This website
Syrian Song of Songs and Kabbalat Shabbat (Audio)
This post includes two audio recordings representing the Syrian custom and musical style, sung by Hazzan Faraj Samra. The first
Cantor Shira Lissek’s Conservative Musical Kabbalat Shabbat
This hour long video features Cantor Shira Lissek leading the entire Kabbalat Shabbat service with musical accompaniment. Shira Lissek is the
Kippalive: A Capella Carlebach Kabbalat Shabbat
This 9 and a half minute long video features the Israeli male a Capella group, Kippalive, singing harmonic versions of many of
Moroccan Kabbalat Shabbat Service (Hebrew Text & Audio)
This link will direct you to the full Hebrew text of the Moroccan Kabbalat Shabbat service along with a 27
Nusach Sefard-Jerusalem Kabbalat Shabbat Service (Hebrew Text & Audio)
This link will direct you to the full Hebrew text of the Kabbalat Service according to the Sefard, Jerusalem tradition,
Conservative Kabbalat Shabbat Service Guide
This post presents the Guide and Transliteration for Friday Evening Services from the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/ Congregation Bnai Israel, a Conservative
K’Gavna: A Kabbalistic Reading Following Kabbalat Shabbat
This post presents the Nusach Ha’Ari and Nusach Sefard tradition of reciting a passage from the Zohar called K’Gavna between
The Kabbalat Shabbat Experience Siddur: Guide, Text & Articles
This post presents a well-formatted, printable PDF booklet of the traditional Ashkenazi Kabbalat Shabbat service with the Hebrew, English and
Traditional Practices - Learn How
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Conservative Kabbalat Shabbat Service Guide
This post presents the Guide and Transliteration for Friday Evening Services from the Fair Lawn Jewish Center/ Congregation Bnai Israel, a Conservative
Let’s Learn T’fillah: L’cha Dodi
This short animated video from Rabbi David Paskin slowly demonstrates how to sing the chorus and the first two and last
Reform Kabbalat Shabbat Service Guide
This short Kabbalat Shabbat Guide from Temple Chai provides a list of all of the prayers and songs that make up the
Learn How to Sing the Ashkenazi Kabbalat Shabbat Service
This 16 minute long video by Rabbi Eli Garfinkel demonstrates how to sing the traditional Ashkenazi Kabbalat Shabbat service, with Hebrew, English
What to Expect at a Reform Shabbat Service
This article by Rabbi Wendi Geffen answers basic questions about the evening and morning Shabbat services in Reform Congregations, such
Guide to the Friday Night Synagogue Services
Great for beginners, this brief excerpt from “Friday Night and Beyond” by Lori Palatnik offers an explanation of the structure and meaning
The Kabbalat Shabbat Experience Siddur: Guide, Text & Articles
This post presents a well-formatted, printable PDF booklet of the traditional Ashkenazi Kabbalat Shabbat service with the Hebrew, English and
Click here to show less Traditional Practices - Learn How content ↑
Music
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Audio Recordings of Ashkenazi High Holiday Liturgy
This link will take you to the musical prayer navigator of Mechon Hadar, where you can find audio recordings for each
Reconstructionist Kabbalat Shabbat Melodies
Click this link to hear different versions of songs from Kabbalat Shabbat, recorded by Bnai Keshet, a vibrant Reconstructionist congregation in
Spanish & Portuguese Kabbalat Shabbat Melodies
Click this link to hear songs from the Kabbalat Shabbat services of the Spanish & Portuguese Jews’ Congregation of London. This website
The Nava Tehila Ensemble: Dancing in the Glory – A Journey into Kabbalat Shabbat
This post features the first song from Nava Tehila Ensemble’s album, “Dancing in the Glory: A Journey into Kabbalat Shabbat,”
Syrian Song of Songs and Kabbalat Shabbat (Audio)
This post includes two audio recordings representing the Syrian custom and musical style, sung by Hazzan Faraj Samra. The first
Cantor Shira Lissek’s Conservative Musical Kabbalat Shabbat
This hour long video features Cantor Shira Lissek leading the entire Kabbalat Shabbat service with musical accompaniment. Shira Lissek is the
Kippalive: A Capella Carlebach Kabbalat Shabbat
This 9 and a half minute long video features the Israeli male a Capella group, Kippalive, singing harmonic versions of many of
Moroccan Kabbalat Shabbat Service (Hebrew Text & Audio)
This link will direct you to the full Hebrew text of the Moroccan Kabbalat Shabbat service along with a 27
Nusach Sefard-Jerusalem Kabbalat Shabbat Service (Hebrew Text & Audio)
This link will direct you to the full Hebrew text of the Kabbalat Service according to the Sefard, Jerusalem tradition,
Rabbi Menachem Creditor: An Original Melody for Yedid Nefesh
This 4 minute long home video presents an original tune for Yedid Nefesh, composed and performed by Rabbi Menachem Creditor,
Yigal Bashan: Likrat Shabbat (Hebrew)
This song, written by Avi Koren and performed by Yigal Bashan, is an Israeli classic describing the atmosphere of a traditional
Ethiopian Melody for Lecha Dodi on the Tel Aviv Port
This 5 minute long video presents an upbeat traditional Ethiopian melody for Lecha Dodi, the central song of the Kabbalat
The Sabbath Queen: A Poem by Hayim Nahman Bialik
This post presents the Hebrew, English and transliterated text of “Sabbath Queen,” a poem by Israel’s national poet, Hayim Nahman
The Hadar Institute: The Content, Meaning and Music of Lecha Dodi
This link will take you to a three-part online audio course exploring the content, meaning, and music of Lecha Dodi,
K’Gavna: A Kabbalistic Reading Following Kabbalat Shabbat
This post presents the Nusach Ha’Ari and Nusach Sefard tradition of reciting a passage from the Zohar called K’Gavna between
Ana B’Ko’ach: A Musical Kabbalistic Meditation with On-Screen Text
This 6:26 minute long video produced by The Kabbalah Center provides deep mystical meditations based on the Kabbalistic secrets hidden within
Yedid Nefesh: Introduction & Audio
This post provides a brief introduction to the liturgical poem “Yedid Nefesh,” often sung by Ashkenazi congregations between the afternoon
What else?
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Attend Reform Shabbat Services Online
This link takes you to the official website of the Reform movement, where you can view live streams and recorded
A Kabbalat Shabbat Poem About Transitions
This poem by Rabbi Annie Lewis explores the cyclical, evolving nature of the physical world and human beings, focusing on the transition into
A Kabbalat Shabbat Poem About the Stillness of Evening
This poem by Ruth F. Brin describes the stillness and silence of the transition into evening, as reflected in the physical world, human
The Sabbath Queen: A Poem by Hayim Nahman Bialik
This post presents the Hebrew, English and transliterated text of “Sabbath Queen,” a poem by Israel’s national poet, Hayim Nahman
Rituals for Turning Off Devices Before Shabbat
This post by Elana Bell presents a short blessing and a list of actions to add spiritual intention to the
An Illustrated Kabbalat Shabbat Siddur
This link opens up “An Illustrated Kabbalat Shabbat Siddur with Drawings by Daniel Nebenzahl,” a Hebrew siddur for adults full
Art in Motion: The Ana B’Koach Prayer Video
This 3:39 minute long video presents David Asher Brook’s award winning artistic representation of the mystical Ana B’Koach prayer. The artist
Reb Zalman’s Shabbat Afirmations
The following prayer comes from the “Siddur Tehillat HaShem Yidaber Pi — Sabbath Evening Supplement” by Rabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi,
The King and Queen in the Field: Reimagining a God Metaphor in Elul (Article & Poem)
The article and poem by Alden Solovy explore two traditional metaphors of God – the harsh King often seen throughout Bible,
Ana B’Ko’ach: A Musical Kabbalistic Meditation with On-Screen Text
This 6:26 minute long video produced by The Kabbalah Center provides deep mystical meditations based on the Kabbalistic secrets hidden within