Rhiannon Hendricks
Lecha Dodi is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song that is often recited on Friday nights to welcome the Sabbath. The song, which translates to Come, my Beloved in English, is a request for Israel's beloved (God) to join in welcoming the Sabbath as a bride. The idea of Shabbat being considered a bride was elaborated by the Kabbalists of Tzfat in the 16th century, who incorporated the tradition of reciting special psalms before the start of Shabbat. Lecha Dodi is often sung at weddings, and there are many different melodies and tunes that have been adapted for the song.
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What You'll Learn
Lecha Dodi is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song
"Lecha Dodi" (Hebrew: לכה דודי) is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song or hymn, composed in the 16th century by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz, a Kabbalist (mystic) from Thessaloniki, later based in Safed. The song is recited in synagogue at dusk on Friday evenings, to welcome the Sabbath before the evening services. It is part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service.
The song's refrain, "Let us go, my beloved, to greet the bride/the Sabbath presence, let us welcome", is a request for Israel's "beloved" (God) to join in welcoming the Sabbath as a bride. This interpretation of the Sabbath as a bride is derived from the Talmud, where the day is described as a wedding ceremony. The Kabbalists of Tzfat in the 16th century further developed this idea, incorporating the tradition of reciting special psalms before the Sabbath.
"Lecha Dodi" is one of the latest Hebrew poems to be accepted into the traditional liturgy. The poem is an acrostic, with the first letter of the first eight stanzas spelling the author's name. The song draws on the rabbinic interpretation of the Song of Songs, in which a maiden is seen as a metaphor for the Jewish people within Israel, and the lover (dod) is a metaphor for God. The poem expresses Israel's plea for God to bring about the great Shabbat of Messianic deliverance.
There are many melodies associated with the song, and the tune often varies according to culture and sect. Some congregations omit certain verses that refer to messianic redemption or agony.
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It is sung at dusk on Fridays in the synagogue
"Lecha Dodi" is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song or hymn that is sung at dusk on Fridays in the synagogue. The phrase "Lecha Dodi" translates to "Come, my friend" or "Come, my beloved" in English. The song is part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service, which is held on Friday nights to welcome the Sabbath before the evening services.
The song was composed in the 16th century by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz, a Kabbalist (mystic) who was born in the Ottoman city of Thessaloniki and later became a Safed Kabbalist. "Lecha Dodi" is one of the latest Hebrew poems to be regularly accepted into the traditional liturgy. The poem draws from the rabbinic interpretation of the Song of Songs, in which the maiden is seen as a metaphor for the Jewish population residing in Israel, and the lover (dod) is a metaphor for God. The poem also draws from Nevi'im, which uses the same metaphor.
In the context of Shabbat, "Lecha Dodi" is sung at dusk as the darkness is lit up by the light of love as God illuminates our lives. For mystics, this involves a spiritual awakening. The Sabbath is considered a bride, and the day itself is thought of as a wedding ceremony. This idea was elaborated by the Kabbalists of Tzfat, who incorporated the tradition of reciting special psalms before the start of Shabbat. The entire congregation rises and turns to the west or the door during the singing of the last verse, and they bow at "Come, O bride!" before turning back toward the front of the synagogue.
The song is often sung to a variety of melodies, depending on the culture and sect of Judaism. For example, some Sephardic congregations chant the hymn to an ancient Moorish melody, while others may use a different tune. The melody may also vary depending on the time of year, with some congregations favouring older melodies reminiscent of northern European folk songs during certain periods.
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The song was composed in the 16th century by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz
"Lecha Dodi" is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song, usually recited at dusk on Fridays in the synagogue to welcome the Sabbath before the evening services. The song was composed in the 16th century by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz, who was born in the Ottoman city of Thessaloniki and later became a Safed Kabbalist.
The song is a compilation of passages from the Bible, references to Jerusalem, the Messiah, and the Jewish people, prophecies from Isaiah, and hints of Talmudic and Midrashic ideology. It is one of the latest Hebrew poems to be regularly accepted into the traditional liturgy. The poem shows Israel asking God to bring upon them the great Shabbat of Messianic deliverance.
The refrain of "Lecha Dodi" means "Let us go, my beloved, to greet the bride/the Sabbath presence, let us welcome." It is a request for Israel's "beloved" (God) to join in welcoming a "bride" (the Sabbath). The phrase "Let us go, my beloved" is taken from Song of Songs 7:12 (7:11 in English bibles), interpreted by Abba b. Joseph b. Hama as Israel addressing God.
The idea of Shabbat being considered a bride was elaborated by the Kabbalists of Tzfat, who incorporated the tradition of reciting special psalms. In Talmudic times, Shabbat was seen as a bride, and the day itself was thought of as a wedding ceremony. This is reflected in the Talmud, where Rabbi Ḥanina is described as wrapping himself in his garment at nightfall on Shabbat eve and saying, "Come and we will go out to greet Shabbat the queen."
Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz incorporated the Arizal's practice of reciting "Zachor v'shamor b'dibbur echad" into his song. He also included key words from the Talmud and phrases from the Haftarah about the Final Redemption and rebuilding of Jerusalem, among other Biblical verses. The first letters of the eight main stanzas of "Lecha Dodi" spell out the author's name, Shlomo haLevi.
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It is a request to God to join and welcome the Sabbath, or Shabbat, as a bride
"Lecha Dodi" is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song, or hymn, that is recited on Friday at dusk, usually at sundown, in synagogues to welcome the Sabbath, or Shabbat, prior to the evening services. The song is a request to God to join and welcome the Sabbath as a bride. The refrain of "Lecha Dodi" means "Let us go, my beloved, to greet the bride/the Sabbath presence, let us welcome". Here, the phrase "Let us go, my beloved" is a request to Israel's "beloved", God, to join together in welcoming a "bride", the Sabbath. The phrase is taken from Song of Songs 7:12 (7:11 in English bibles), which Abba b. Joseph b. Hama interpreted as Israel talking to God.
The idea of Shabbat being considered a bride was elaborated by the Kabbalists of Tzfat, who incorporated the tradition of reciting special psalms. In Talmudic times, Shabbat was perceived as a bride, and the day itself was thought of as a wedding ceremony. For example, in the Talmud from Shabbat 119a, Rabbi Ḥanina is described as wrapping himself in his garment at nightfall on the eve of Shabbat and saying, "Come and we will go out to greet Shabbat the queen". Rabbi Yannai is also described as putting on his garment on the eve of Shabbat and saying, "Enter, O bride. Enter, O bride".
"Lecha Dodi" was composed in the 16th century by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz, who was born in the Ottoman city of Thessaloniki and later became a Safed Kabbalist. The song is an acrostic, with the first letter of the first eight stanzas spelling the author's name. The author draws from the rabbinic interpretation of the Song of Songs, in which the maiden is seen as a metaphor for an ancient Jewish population residing within Israel's biblical limits, and the lover (dod) is a metaphor for God. The poem shows Israel asking God to bring upon that great Shabbat of Messianic deliverance.
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The song is part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service
"Lecha Dodi" is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song or hymn that is part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service. It is traditionally sung in synagogues on Friday nights at dusk to welcome the Sabbath before the evening services. The song's refrain, "Let us go, my beloved, to greet the bride/the Sabbath presence, let us welcome", is a request for Israel's "beloved" (God) to join in welcoming the "bride" (the Sabbath). This interpretation of Shabbat as a bride is derived from the Talmud, where it is described as a wedding ceremony.
The song was composed in the 16th century by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz, a Kabbalist (mystic) from Thessaloniki who later settled in Safed. As was common in the period, the poem is an acrostic, with the first letter of the first eight stanzas spelling the author's name. The poem draws on the rabbinic interpretation of the Song of Songs, in which the maiden is a metaphor for the Jewish people within Israel, and the lover (dod) is a metaphor for God. The poem also references Jerusalem, the Messiah, prophecies from Isaiah, and Talmudic and Midrashic ideology.
There are numerous melodies for "Lecha Dodi" from around the world, each differing slightly based on the culture and sect of Judaism. For example, during the Omer weeks between Passover and Shavuot, a melody reminiscent of late-17th-century German folk songs is often used. In addition, some congregations have unique traditions, such as allowing the teen being honoured at a bar or bat mitzvah to choose songs they like for the tune of "Lecha Dodi".
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Frequently asked questions
Lecha Dodi is a Hebrew-language Jewish liturgical song that is traditionally sung on Friday nights to welcome the Sabbath. The song is a request to Israel's "beloved" (God) to join together in welcoming a "bride" (the Sabbath).
Lecha Dodi means "Come, my Beloved" in English.
Lecha Dodi was composed in the 16th century by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz, a Kabbalist (mystic) born in the Ottoman city of Thessaloniki.
Lecha Dodi is a song that welcomes the Sabbath as a bride, a tradition elaborated by the Kabbalists of Tzfat in the 16th century. The song is a compilation of passages from the Bible, references to Jerusalem, the Messiah, and the Jewish people, as well as prophecies from Isaiah.
During the singing of the last verse, the entire congregation rises and turns to the west or the door, symbolically welcoming the Sabbath. The congregation may also bow and turn back towards the front of the synagogue.
