Kabbalat Shabbat: Welcoming Shabbat
E-Learning
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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. Originally from the Encyclopaedia Judaica, this article was shared on Jewish Virtual
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 Kabbalat Shabbat service. The first video focuses on the
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 behind the Friday night synagogue services, including Mincha (the afternoon
L’cha Dodi and the Kabbalistic 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 a special focus on the L’cha Dodi prayer, a central
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 a focus on prayer as the essence of Shabbat, the
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 of traditions held in various communities and the development of
Music
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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 Rabbi Shlomo Calebach‘s most famous melodies for Kabbalat Shabbat. The
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 Friday night Shabbat dinner. It contains references to common Shabbat
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,” made up of original Kabbalat Shabbat melodies. The Nava Tehila
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 Shabbat service. This recording comes from the Kabbalat Shabbat service
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 clip is a 20 minute long audio recording of the
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, the rabbi of the Conservative Netivot Shalom Congregation in Berkley,
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 Associate Cantor of Park Avenue Synagogue, the largest Conservative community
Yedid Nefesh: Introduction & Audio
This post provides a brief introduction to the liturgical poem “Yedid Nefesh,” often sung by Ashkenazi congregations between the afternoon Minchah prayer on Friday and the beginning of the Kabbalat
What Else?
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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 Bialik, about welcoming Shabbat. This poem is included in many
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 Shabbat as a time of peace and rest. Rabbi Annie Lewis,
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 of drawings that are meant to inspire the user. The
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 paints each of the 42 Hebrew letters hidden within the
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, “Reb Zalman” (1924-2014), one of the founders of the Jewish
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 simple act of turning of your electronic devices before Shabbat.
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 beings, and God. Brin, a liturgical pioneer in the 1950s,
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 Kabbalat Shabbat services from Reform synagogues all across North America.
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, alongside the compassionate, loving Queen we greet in the Kabbalat
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 the song, Ana B’Koach, traditionally sung as part of the
Rituals & Ceremonies
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Audio Recordings of Ashkenazi Shabbat & High Holiday Liturgy
This link will take you to the musical prayer navigator of Mechon Hadar, where you can find audio recordings for each part of the synagogue service for Shabbat, weekday, Rosh Hashanah,
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 explains the prayer customs of this community, featuring both traditional
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, and some additional prayers.Specifically designed for the Conservative Beth El
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 of the five megillot (scrolls) of the Bible, the Song
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 poems about welcoming the Sabbath Queen, by Hayim Nahman Bialik, Zalman Shenour and
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 Varady, with Kabbalat Shabbat on page 38-94. Varady defines his
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 the Hebrew, English and transliterated texts of each prayer. Originally
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 recited prior to Kabbalat Shabbat in Sephardic congregations, and Bameh
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 nights, either between Kabbalat Shabbat and the Maariv evening prayer or
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 Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv. This Kabbalistic commentary on Parshat Terumah
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 minute long audio recording of the entire service in the
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, along with a 20 minute long audio recording of the
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 public domain, arranged and translated by Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, the founder
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 Hebrew and English. Yedid Nefesh, a Kabbalistic hymn that often
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 the hymns and Psalms of the traditional service, together with
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 Tikkun Jewish Renewal neo-Hasidic synagogue in Berkeley, California. This Kabbalat Shabbat
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. With Hebrew, English and transliterated texts, as well as short
Traditional Practices - Learn How
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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 transliterated texts of each prayer. With introductory articles explaining the
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 two verses of L’cha Dodi, the central prayer of the
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 Egalitarian Synagogue in Fair Lawn, NJ. Particularly useful for those
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 and transliterated texts to follow along. He uses many melodies
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 Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat and Ma’ariv evening service, along with
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 as whether or not there will be music and what
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