An atmosphere of beauty, drama, meaning, and music. Voices coming together in song and prayer, lifting our souls to the heavens. Texture and instruments supporting our communal prayer in welcome of Shabbat. This is what a traditional Kabbalat Shabbat entails. We move through six psalms, one for each day of the week leading up to Shabbat, each one bringing us higher and spiritually closer to welcoming the Shabbat Bride. L’cha Dodi, the apex of the Kabbalat Shabbat service is a crowning glory of poetry, Torah, story, and song. Each verse weaves our heritage and peoplehood together that we might truly unite with Shechina- the divine, as her presence settles over us with each verse. Tradition weaves different musical settings of L’cha Dodi into one through composed body of song. With Shabbat in our midst, we turn to the psalms for Shabbat, psalms of righteousness and goodness, that we may be sustained with extra blessings for the next 25 hours.
Sound intriguing? You are in for a special treat this Shabbat, as we experience together Shuvi Nafshi- my soul returns, a Kabbalat Shabbat experience. This will be an immersive musical experience that will highlight each of the psalms of Shabbat and of course, L’cha Dodi. A short Maariv service will follow. As we continue to move into 2022, bring with you everything you want to let go from 2021, and experience a true Shabbat of release and song, welcoming in gratitude and blessings for this year to come.
We will be joined by Marla Feeny, our multi-instrumentalist, and Thomas Ballew, pianist. Yours truly with the tof (drum).
Stay tuned also for February 4th, our Koleinu: Inclusion Awareness Shabbat, elevating Jewish Disability Awareness and Inclusion Month.
Lots of good things abound!
B’Shalom v’Shira,
In peace and song,
Cantor Lauren Adesnik
