Personally Connecting to Kabbalat Shabbat

A Jewish Joke
Q: When G-d plays Tic-Tac-Toe with the Jewish people, which letter does G-d take?
A: The Xs, because "Hashem oz l'amo yitein" ("G-d will give 'Os' / Strength to the Jewish people")

Kabbalat Shabbat "on one foot":

Kabbalat Shabbat is a section of the Friday evening service. It's the very beginning, prior to the evening service ("Arvit" or "Ma'ariv") officially beginning with Barchu. It was developed by the Kabbalists in the city of Sefad (in the Land of Israel) in the 1500s as a way of "receiving Shabbat" (which is what "Kabbalat Shabbat" literally means).

Historical Background of Kabbalat Shabbat

שבת קי״ט א:ב׳

רַבִּי חֲנִינָא מִיעֲטֵף וְקָאֵי אַפַּנְיָא דְמַעֲלֵי שַׁבְּתָא, אָמַר: ״בּוֹאוּ וְנֵצֵא לִקְרַאת שַׁבָּת הַמַּלְכָּה״. רַבִּי יַנַּאי לָבֵישׁ מָאנֵי מְעַלּוּ (שַׁבָּת) [וּמִיכַּסֵּי], וְאָמַר: ״בּוֹאִי כַלָּה, בּוֹאִי כַלָּה״.

Shabbat 119a:2

Rabbi Ḥanina would wrap himself in his garment and stand at nightfall on Shabbat eve, and say: Come and we will go out to greet Shabbat the queen. Rabbi Yannai put on his garment on Shabbat eve and said: Enter, O bride. Enter, O bride.

Between 1492 and 1529, Jews were kicked out of Spain, Portugal, Nuremberg, Bavaria, the Papal States, Milan, and Naples. Then in 1520, Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire conquered Egypt and the Land of Israel from the Mamelukes. This led to a population explosion in Tzfat / Safed as Jews from all over came to this city in the Galilee near Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai’s grave in Meron. Among those who gathered there was the Kabbalist Rabbi Isaac Luria, known as “the Ari”. Around him gathered other Kabbalists, such as Rabbis Joseph Karo (author of the Shulchan Aruch), Elazar Azikri (author of “Yedid Nefesh”), Moshe Cordevero (the leading Kabbalist before Luria), and his brother-in-law Shlomo Alkabetz. They would all go out into the fields at dusk on Friday, singing psalms and songs to welcome Shabbat; this custom spread to other communities but they did it inside the synagogue just before Ma’ariv / Arvit. Inspired by the text in the Babylonian Talmud (Shabbat 119a:2), Alkabetz wrote “L’cha Dodi” as the centerpiece for this new service, “Kabbalat Shabbat” (“Receiving the Sabbath”). He wrote it as an acrostic using his name for the first 8 stances (Shlomo haLevi). Kabbalat Shabbat became the last universally accepted addition to Jewish liturgy.

Kabbalat Shabbat Itself

סידור אשכנז, שבת, קבלת שבת, ידיד נפש

(א) יְדִיד נֶֽפֶשׁ, אָב הָרַחְמָן, מְשֹׁךְ עַבְדָּךְ אֶל־רְצוֹנָךְ, יָרוּץ עַבְדָּךְ כְּמוֹ אַיָּל, יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה מוּל הֲדָרָךְ, כִּי יֶעֱרַב־לוֹ יְדִידוּתָךְ מִנֹּֽפֶת צוּף וְכָל־טָֽעַם.

(ב) הָדוּר, נָאֶה, זִיו הָעוֹלָם, נַפְשִׁי חוֹלַת אַהֲבָתָךְ, אָנָּא, אֵל, נָא, רְפָא־נָא לָהּ בְּהַרְאוֹת לָהּ נֹֽעַם זִיוָךְ, אָז תִּתְחַזֵּק וְתִתְרַפֵּא, וְהָיְתָה לָךְ שִׁפְחַת עוֹלָם.

(ג) וָתִיק, יֶהֱמוּ רַחֲמֶֽיךָ, וְחוּס־נָא עַל־בֵּן אוֹהֲבָךְ, כִּי זֶה כַּמֶּה נִכְסֹף נִכְסַף לִרְאוֹת בְּתִפְאֶֽרֶת עֻזָּךְ, אָנָּא, אֵלִי, מַחְמַד לִבִּי, חֽוּשָׁה־נָּא וְאַל תִּתְעַלָּם.

(ד) הִגָּלֶה־נָא וּפְרֹשׂ, חָבִיב, עָלַי אֶת־סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמָךְ, תָּאִיר אֶֽרֶץ מִכְּבוֹדָךְ, נָגִֽילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בָּךְ, מַהֵר, אָהוּב, כִּי בָא מוֹעֵד, וְחָנֵּֽנִי כִּימֵי עוֹלָם.

Siddur Ashkenaz, Shabbat, Kabbalat Shabbat, Yedid Nefesh

Beloved of my soul, compassionate Father, draw me, your servant, to your desire. Would that I could run like a gazelle, and bow before Your beauty, for I find your love sweeter than honey or any delight.

Beautiful, splendrous light of the world, my soul is sick with love. God, please heal her by bathing her in your serene light -- then she shall surely be strengthened and healed and be Your servant forever.

Ancient One, let Your compassion flow. Have pity on the child whom You love -- for I have yearned so long to see your luminescent power. My God, my beloved, hurry; please, do not hide!

Please, my beloved, reveal Yourself. Spread the sukkah of your love over me. May the whole world be illuminated with Your glory; then shall we be glad and rejoice with You. My lover -- come quickly, for the time has come -- have compassion for me as in days of old.

Context: Yedid Nefesh was written by Elazar Azikri in the 1500s in Sefad (in the Land of Israel). It describes a deep yearning for G-d. There are two versions of the words, because the original version was lost and later found. The original version has a lot of words that end in “ach” while the version that guesses what the original is has words that end in “cha”. Yedid Nefesh is an acrostic with G-d’s name.
In this poem, the piyuttan (religious poet) has a deep yearning for G-d, similar to that of a person who is in love. When have you had a deep yearning for something? How would developing that yearning for G-d affect your relationship with G-d?

Context: This is Six13 singing Yedid Nefesh, not the original words, and only the first verse.

תהילים צ״ה

(א) לְ֭כוּ נְרַנְּנָ֣ה לַיהֹוָ֑ה נָ֝רִ֗יעָה לְצ֣וּר יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ׃ (ב) נְקַדְּמָ֣ה פָנָ֣יו בְּתוֹדָ֑ה בִּ֝זְמִר֗וֹת נָרִ֥יעַֽ לֽוֹ׃ (ג) כִּ֤י אֵ֣ל גָּד֣וֹל יְהֹוָ֑ה וּמֶ֥לֶךְ גָּ֝ד֗וֹל עַל־כׇּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (ד) אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּ֭יָדוֹ מֶחְקְרֵי־אָ֑רֶץ וְתוֹעֲפֹ֖ת הָרִ֣ים לֽוֹ׃ (ה) אֲשֶׁר־ל֣וֹ הַ֭יָּם וְה֣וּא עָשָׂ֑הוּ וְ֝יַבֶּ֗שֶׁת יָדָ֥יו יָצָֽרוּ׃ (ו) בֹּ֭אוּ נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֣ה וְנִכְרָ֑עָה נִ֝בְרְכָ֗ה לִֽפְנֵי־יְהֹוָ֥ה עֹשֵֽׂנוּ׃ (ז) כִּ֘י ה֤וּא אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ וַאֲנַ֤חְנוּ עַ֣ם מַ֭רְעִיתוֹ וְצֹ֣אן יָד֑וֹ הַ֝יּ֗וֹם אִֽם־בְּקֹל֥וֹ תִשְׁמָֽעוּ׃ (ח) אַל־תַּקְשׁ֣וּ לְ֭בַבְכֶם כִּמְרִיבָ֑ה כְּי֥וֹם מַ֝סָּ֗ה בַּמִּדְבָּֽר׃ (ט) אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִ֭סּוּנִי אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם בְּ֝חָנ֗וּנִי גַּם־רָא֥וּ פׇעֳלִֽי׃ (י) אַרְבָּ֘עִ֤ים שָׁנָ֨ה ׀ אָ֘ק֤וּט בְּד֗וֹר וָאֹמַ֗ר עַ֤ם תֹּעֵ֣י לֵבָ֣ב הֵ֑ם וְ֝הֵ֗ם לֹא־יָדְע֥וּ דְרָכָֽי׃ (יא) אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּ֥עְתִּי בְאַפִּ֑י אִם־יְ֝בֹא֗וּן אֶל־מְנוּחָתִֽי׃ {פ}

Psalms 95

(1) Come, let us sing joyously to the LORD,
raise a shout for our rock and deliverer; (2) let us come into God's presence with praise;
let us raise a shout for God in song! (3) For the LORD is a great God,
the great sovereign of all divine beings. (4) In God's hand are the depths of the earth;
the peaks of the mountains are the LORD's. (5) God's is the sea, the LORD made it;
and the land, which God's hands fashioned.
(6) Come, let us bow down and kneel,
bend the knee before the LORD our maker, (7) for the LORD is our God,
and we are the people God tends, the flock in Divine care.
O, if you would but heed God's charge this day: (8) Do not be stubborn as at Meribah,
as on the day of Massah, in the wilderness, (9) when your fathers put Me to the test,
tried Me, though they had seen My deeds. (10) Forty years I was provoked by that generation;
I thought, “They are a senseless people;
they would not know My ways.” (11) Concerning them I swore in anger,
“They shall never come to My resting-place!”

Context: This is Psalm 95, a nature psalm. The reference to Meribah and Massah is to Exodus 17:7, where the Israelites tested G-d by asking for water right after they had crossed the Sea of Reeds. In that case, G-d told Moses to hit a rock and make water come out. It was an early example of the Israelites asking G-d for things in the wilderness.
The psalm urges us to sing to G-d. How would Friday evening services be different if we only spoke the prayers?

Context: This is the tune composed by Reuven Sirotkin, being sung by Naomi Weiss Weil, the former Ritual Director of Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago (start at 0:27).

Context: This is Six13 singing the Shlomo Carlebach tune for the beginning of this psalm.

Context: This is Craig Taubman singing his version of the beginning of this psalm.

Context: This is Joe Buchanan, a Jewish country musician, singing his version of L’chu N’ranan’na.

Context: This is a tune written by Cantor Pavel Roytman. It is being performed by Cantors Liz Berke and Rachel Brook (left to right) and Todd Kessler on guitar, all of Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago.

תהילים צ״ו

(א) שִׁ֣ירוּ לַ֭יהֹוָה שִׁ֣יר חָדָ֑שׁ שִׁ֥ירוּ לַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ב) שִׁ֣ירוּ לַ֭יהֹוָה בָּרְכ֣וּ שְׁמ֑וֹ בַּשְּׂר֥וּ מִיּֽוֹם־לְ֝י֗וֹם יְשׁוּעָתֽוֹ׃ (ג) סַפְּר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֣ם כְּבוֹד֑וֹ בְּכׇל־הָ֝עַמִּ֗ים נִפְלְאוֹתָֽיו׃ (ד) כִּ֥י גָ֘ד֤וֹל יְהֹוָ֣ה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד נוֹרָ֥א ה֝֗וּא עַל־כׇּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (ה) כִּ֤י ׀ כׇּל־אֱלֹהֵ֣י הָעַמִּ֣ים אֱלִילִ֑ים וַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם עָשָֽׂה׃ (ו) הוֹד־וְהָדָ֥ר לְפָנָ֑יו עֹ֥ז וְ֝תִפְאֶ֗רֶת בְּמִקְדָּשֽׁוֹ׃ (ז) הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהֹוָה מִשְׁפְּח֣וֹת עַמִּ֑ים הָב֥וּ לַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה כָּב֥וֹד וָעֹֽז׃ (ח) הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהֹוָה כְּב֣וֹד שְׁמ֑וֹ שְׂאֽוּ־מִ֝נְחָ֗ה וּבֹ֥אוּ לְחַצְרוֹתָֽיו׃ (ט) הִשְׁתַּחֲו֣וּ לַ֭יהֹוָה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹ֑דֶשׁ חִ֥ילוּ מִ֝פָּנָ֗יו כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (י) אִמְר֤וּ בַגּוֹיִ֨ם ׀ יְ֘הֹוָ֤ה מָלָ֗ךְ אַף־תִּכּ֣וֹן תֵּ֭בֵל בַּל־תִּמּ֑וֹט יָדִ֥ין עַ֝מִּ֗ים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃ (יא) יִשְׂמְח֣וּ הַ֭שָּׁמַיִם וְתָגֵ֣ל הָאָ֑רֶץ יִֽרְעַ֥ם הַ֝יָּ֗ם וּמְלֹאֽוֹ׃ (יב) יַעֲלֹ֣ז שָׂ֭דַי וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁר־בּ֑וֹ אָ֥ז יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ כׇּל־עֲצֵי־יָֽעַר׃ (יג) לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ כִּ֬י בָ֗א כִּ֥י בָא֮ לִשְׁפֹּ֢ט הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק וְ֝עַמִּ֗ים בֶּאֱמוּנָתֽוֹ׃ {פ}

Psalms 96

(1) Sing to the LORD a new song,
sing to the LORD, all the earth. (2) Sing to the LORD, bless God's name,
proclaim the LORD's victory day after day. (3) Tell of God's glory among the nations,
the LORD's wondrous deeds, among all peoples. (4) For the LORD is great and much acclaimed,
God is held in awe by all divine beings. (5) All the gods of the peoples are mere idols,
but the LORD made the heavens. (6) Glory and majesty are before God;
strength and splendor are in the LORD's temple.
(7) Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. (8) Ascribe to the LORD the glory of the Divine name,
bring tribute and enter God's courts. (9) Bow down to the LORD majestic in holiness;
tremble in God's presence, all the earth! (10) Declare among the nations, “The LORD is sovereign!”
the world stands firm; it cannot be shaken;
God judges the peoples with equity. (11) Let the heavens rejoice and the earth exult;
let the sea and all within it thunder, (12) the fields and everything in them exult;
then shall all the trees of the forest shout for joy (13) at the presence of the LORD, for God is coming,
for God is coming to rule the earth;
God will rule the world justly,
and its peoples in faithfulness.

Context: This is Psalm 96, a nature psalm.
The question is sometimes asked "How can you ‘sing a new song to G-d’ when it's the same words that we sang last week?". The answer that is sometimes given is that we've become different, so it's like a new cover band singing the same song. What have you learned or experienced in the past week that has made you a different person?

Context: This is Six13 singing the Shlomo Carlebach tune for this psalm, at least the beginning of the prayer.

Context: This is Naomi Weiss Weil, the former ritual director at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago, singing a common tune for Y’sm’chu Shashamayim (start at 0:36).

Context: This is Craig Taubman singing his version of “Yismechu” (start at 1:30) (for another rendition of the same tune, see here: https://youtu.be/21zH21aYkP4)

Context: This is Nefesh Mountain, a Jewish bluegrass group, singing their version of “Y’sm’chu”.

Context: This is “Yir’am HaYam” from Safam, a Jewish-American rock band. It was released in 1989 on their “Greater Scheme of Things” album. This video is from the 1991 Rutgers Jewish Arts Festival.

תהילים צ״ז

(א) יְהֹוָ֣ה מָ֭לָךְ תָּגֵ֣ל הָאָ֑רֶץ יִ֝שְׂמְח֗וּ אִיִּ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃ (ב) עָנָ֣ן וַעֲרָפֶ֣ל סְבִיבָ֑יו צֶ֥דֶק וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט מְכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֽוֹ׃ (ג) אֵ֭שׁ לְפָנָ֣יו תֵּלֵ֑ךְ וּתְלַהֵ֖ט סָבִ֣יב צָרָֽיו׃ (ד) הֵאִ֣ירוּ בְרָקָ֣יו תֵּבֵ֑ל רָאֲתָ֖ה וַתָּחֵ֣ל הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ה) הָרִ֗ים כַּדּוֹנַ֗ג נָ֭מַסּוּ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה מִ֝לִּפְנֵ֗י אֲד֣וֹן כׇּל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ו) הִגִּ֣ידוּ הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם צִדְק֑וֹ וְרָא֖וּ כׇל־הָעַמִּ֣ים כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃ (ז) יֵבֹ֤שׁוּ ׀ כׇּל־עֹ֬בְדֵי פֶ֗סֶל הַמִּֽתְהַלְלִ֥ים בָּאֱלִילִ֑ים הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ־ל֝֗וֹ כׇּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (ח) שָׁמְעָ֬ה וַתִּשְׂמַ֨ח ׀ צִיּ֗וֹן וַ֭תָּגֵלְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת יְהוּדָ֑ה לְמַ֖עַן מִשְׁפָּטֶ֣יךָ יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ט) כִּֽי־אַתָּ֤ה יְהֹוָ֗ה עֶלְי֥וֹן עַל־כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ מְאֹ֥ד נַ֝עֲלֵ֗יתָ עַל־כׇּל־אֱלֹהִֽים׃ (י) אֹֽהֲבֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֗ה שִׂנְא֫וּ־רָ֥ע שֹׁ֭מֵר נַפְשׁ֣וֹת חֲסִידָ֑יו מִיַּ֥ד רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים יַצִּילֵֽם׃ (יא) א֭וֹר זָרֻ֣עַ לַצַּדִּ֑יק וּֽלְיִשְׁרֵי־לֵ֥ב שִׂמְחָֽה׃ (יב) שִׂמְח֣וּ צַ֭דִּיקִים בַּיהֹוָ֑ה וְ֝הוֹד֗וּ לְזֵ֣כֶר קׇדְשֽׁוֹ׃ {פ}

Psalms 97

(1) The LORD is Sovereign!
Let the earth exult,
the many islands rejoice! (2) Dense clouds are around God,
righteousness and justice are the base of the LORD's throne. (3) Fire is God's vanguard,
burning the Divine foes on every side. (4) God's lightnings light up the world;
the earth is convulsed at the sight; (5) mountains melt like wax at the LORD’s presence,
at the presence of the Lord of all the earth. (6) The heavens proclaim God's righteousness
and all peoples see the LORD’s glory. (7) All who worship images,
who vaunt their idols,
are dismayed;
all divine beings bow down to God. (8) Zion, hearing it, rejoices,
the towns of Judah exult,
because of Your judgments, O LORD. (9) For You, LORD, are supreme over all the earth;
You are exalted high above all divine beings.
(10) O you who love the LORD, hate evil!
God guards the lives of the LORD's loyal ones,
saving them from the hand of the wicked. (11) Light is sown for the righteous,
happiness for the upright. (12) O you righteous, rejoice in the LORD
and acclaim God's holy name!

Context: This is Psalm 97, a nature psalm.
What do you make of the phrase "light is sown for the righteous, happiness for the upright"?

Context: This is Cantor Jeff Klepper and Rabbi Danny Freelander, the duo known as “Kol B’Seder”, singing their version of “Or Zarua”. To see the same tune being sung with the lyrics and hand motions by Cantor Rachel Brook of Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago, see here: https://youtu.be/HNeljgpu4CQ

Context: This is Zamru, an independent minyan in Princeton, NJ, singing a tune for “Or Zarua” at the end. Though they don’t do it, the tune can repeat to finish the prayer.

Context: This is Six13 singing the first half of the Shlomo Carlebach tune for the end of this psalm.

תהילים צ״ח

(א) מִזְמ֡וֹר שִׁ֤ירוּ לַיהֹוָ֨ה ׀ שִׁ֣יר חָ֭דָשׁ כִּֽי־נִפְלָא֣וֹת עָשָׂ֑ה הוֹשִׁיעָה־לּ֥וֹ יְ֝מִינ֗וֹ וּזְר֥וֹעַ קׇדְשֽׁוֹ׃ (ב) הוֹדִ֣יעַ יְ֭הֹוָה יְשׁוּעָת֑וֹ לְעֵינֵ֥י הַ֝גּוֹיִ֗ם גִּלָּ֥ה צִדְקָתֽוֹ׃ (ג) זָ֘כַ֤ר חַסְדּ֨וֹ ׀ וֶ֥אֱֽמוּנָתוֹ֮ לְבֵ֢ית יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל רָא֥וּ כׇל־אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ אֵ֝֗ת יְשׁוּעַ֥ת אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ (ד) הָרִ֣יעוּ לַ֭יהֹוָה כׇּל־הָאָ֑רֶץ פִּצְח֖וּ וְרַנְּנ֣וּ וְזַמֵּֽרוּ׃ (ה) זַמְּר֣וּ לַיהֹוָ֣ה בְּכִנּ֑וֹר בְּ֝כִנּ֗וֹר וְק֣וֹל זִמְרָֽה׃ (ו) בַּ֭חֲצֹ֣צְרוֹת וְק֣וֹל שׁוֹפָ֑ר הָ֝רִ֗יעוּ לִפְנֵ֤י ׀ הַמֶּ֬לֶךְ יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ז) יִרְעַ֣ם הַ֭יָּם וּמְלֹא֑וֹ תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל וְיֹ֣שְׁבֵי בָֽהּ׃ (ח) נְהָר֥וֹת יִמְחֲאוּ־כָ֑ף יַ֝֗חַד הָרִ֥ים יְרַנֵּֽנוּ׃ (ט) לִ֥פְֽנֵי יְהֹוָ֗ה כִּ֥י בָא֮ לִשְׁפֹּ֢ט הָ֫אָ֥רֶץ יִשְׁפֹּֽט־תֵּבֵ֥ל בְּצֶ֑דֶק וְ֝עַמִּ֗ים בְּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃ {פ}

Psalms 98

(1) A psalm.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for God has worked wonders;
The LORD's right hand, the LORD's holy arm,
has won God victory. (2) The LORD has manifested God's victory,
has displayed the Divine triumph in the sight of the nations. (3) God was mindful of the Divine steadfast love and faithfulness toward the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth beheld the victory of our God. (4) Raise a shout to the LORD, all the earth,
break into joyous songs of praise! (5) Sing praise to the LORD with the lyre,
with the lyre and melodious song. (6) With trumpets and the blast of the horn
raise a shout before the LORD, the Sovereign. (7) Let the sea and all within it thunder,
the world and its inhabitants; (8) let the rivers clap their hands,
the mountains sing joyously together (9) at the presence of the LORD,
for God is coming to rule the earth;
God will rule the world justly,
and its peoples with equity.

Context: This is Psalm 98, a nature psalm.
It is possible to see the world through "glasses" in which G-d is active and through "glasses" in which G-d is not active. Looking at your experiences through "G-d glasses", what wonders has G-d wrought in your life, either in nature or in things that have happened to you?

Context: This is Six13 singing the beginning of the Shlomo Carlebach tune for this psalm.

תהילים צ״ט

(א) יְהֹוָ֣ה מָ֭לָךְ יִרְגְּז֣וּ עַמִּ֑ים יֹשֵׁ֥ב כְּ֝רוּבִ֗ים תָּנ֥וּט הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (ב) יְ֭הֹוָה בְּצִיּ֣וֹן גָּד֑וֹל וְרָ֥ם ה֝֗וּא עַל־כׇּל־הָעַמִּֽים׃ (ג) יוֹד֣וּ שִׁ֭מְךָ גָּד֥וֹל וְנוֹרָ֗א קָד֥וֹשׁ הֽוּא׃ (ד) וְעֹ֥ז מֶלֶךְ֮ מִשְׁפָּ֢ט אָ֫הֵ֥ב אַ֭תָּה כּוֹנַ֣נְתָּ מֵישָׁרִ֑ים מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּ֝צְדָקָ֗ה בְּיַעֲקֹ֤ב ׀ אַתָּ֬ה עָשִֽׂיתָ׃ (ה) רוֹמְמ֡וּ יְ֘הֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ וְֽ֭הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַהֲדֹ֥ם רַגְלָ֗יו קָד֥וֹשׁ הֽוּא׃ (ו) מֹ֘שֶׁ֤ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֨ן ׀ בְּֽכֹהֲנָ֗יו וּ֭שְׁמוּאֵל בְּקֹרְאֵ֣י שְׁמ֑וֹ קֹרִ֥אים אֶל־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה וְה֣וּא יַעֲנֵֽם׃ (ז) בְּעַמּ֣וּד עָ֭נָן יְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם שָׁמְר֥וּ עֵ֝דֹתָ֗יו וְחֹ֣ק נָֽתַן־לָֽמוֹ׃ (ח) יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵינוּ֮ אַתָּ֢ה עֲנִ֫יתָ֥ם אֵ֣ל נֹ֭שֵׂא הָיִ֣יתָ לָהֶ֑ם וְ֝נֹקֵ֗ם עַל־עֲלִילוֹתָֽם׃ (ט) רוֹמְמ֡וּ יְ֘הֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֵ֗ינוּ וְֽ֭הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְהַ֣ר קׇדְשׁ֑וֹ כִּי־קָ֝ד֗וֹשׁ יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃ {פ}

Psalms 99

(1) The LORD, enthroned on cherubim, is sovereign,
peoples tremble, the earth quakes. (2) The LORD is great in Zion,
and exalted above all peoples. (3) They praise Your name as great and awesome;
God is holy!
(4) Mighty sovereign who loves justice,
it was You who established equity,
You who worked righteous judgment in Jacob. (5) Exalt the LORD our God
and bow down to the LORD's footstool; God is holy!
(6) Moses and Aaron among the LORD's priests,
Samuel, among those who call on God's name—
when they called to the LORD,
God answered them. (7) God spoke to them in a pillar of cloud;
they obeyed the Divine decrees,
the law God gave them. (8) O LORD our God, You answered them;
You were a forgiving God for them,
but You exacted retribution for their misdeeds.
(9) Exalt the LORD our God,
and bow toward God's holy mountain,
for the LORD our God is holy.

Context: This is Psalm 99, a nature psalm. The "Romemu" lines of the Torah service come from this psalm, where they serve to mark the two sections of the prayer. Note that when it says "G-d is enthroned on 'kruvim' ", the word "kruvim" could mean "cabbages" or "cherubim" but it does not mean "cabbages" here. Fun fact: "Cherubim" is one of the few English words that uses the Hebrew pluralization.
If it was G-d who established equity, then where do we have work to do to reach G-d's goal?

Context: This is Craig Taubman singing his version of Romemeu (start at 0:38).

Context: This is Six13 singing the Shlomo Carlebach tune for the last part of this psalm.

תהילים כ״ט

(א) מִזְמ֗וֹר לְדָ֫וִ֥ד הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהֹוָה בְּנֵ֣י אֵלִ֑ים הָב֥וּ לַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה כָּב֥וֹד וָעֹֽז׃ (ב) הָב֣וּ לַ֭יהֹוָה כְּב֣וֹד שְׁמ֑וֹ הִשְׁתַּחֲו֥וּ לַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה בְּהַדְרַת־קֹֽדֶשׁ׃ (ג) ק֥וֹל יְהֹוָ֗ה עַל־הַ֫מָּ֥יִם אֵֽל־הַכָּב֥וֹד הִרְעִ֑ים יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה עַל־מַ֥יִם רַבִּֽים׃ (ד) קוֹל־יְהֹוָ֥ה בַּכֹּ֑חַ ק֥וֹל יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה בֶּהָדָֽר׃ (ה) ק֣וֹל יְ֭הֹוָה שֹׁבֵ֣ר אֲרָזִ֑ים וַיְשַׁבֵּ֥ר יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה אֶת־אַרְזֵ֥י הַלְּבָנֽוֹן׃ (ו) וַיַּרְקִידֵ֥ם כְּמוֹ־עֵ֑גֶל לְבָנ֥וֹן וְ֝שִׂרְיֹ֗ן כְּמ֣וֹ בֶן־רְאֵמִֽים׃ (ז) קוֹל־יְהֹוָ֥ה חֹצֵ֗ב לַהֲב֥וֹת אֵֽשׁ׃ (ח) ק֣וֹל יְ֭הֹוָה יָחִ֣יל מִדְבָּ֑ר יָחִ֥יל יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה מִדְבַּ֥ר קָדֵֽשׁ׃ (ט) ק֤וֹל יְהֹוָ֨ה ׀ יְחוֹלֵ֣ל אַיָּלוֹת֮ וַֽיֶּחֱשֹׂ֢ף יְעָ֫ר֥וֹת וּבְהֵיכָל֑וֹ כֻּ֝לּ֗וֹ אֹמֵ֥ר כָּבֽוֹד׃ (י) יְ֭הֹוָה לַמַּבּ֣וּל יָשָׁ֑ב וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה מֶ֣לֶךְ לְעוֹלָֽם׃ (יא) יְֽהֹוָ֗ה עֹ֭ז לְעַמּ֣וֹ יִתֵּ֑ן יְהֹוָ֓ה ׀ יְבָרֵ֖ךְ אֶת־עַמּ֣וֹ בַשָּׁלֽוֹם׃ {פ}

Psalms 29

(1) A psalm of David.

Ascribe to the LORD, O divine beings,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. (2) Ascribe to the LORD the glory of God's name;
bow down to the LORD, majestic in holiness. (3) The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the LORD, over the mighty waters. (4) The voice of the LORD is power;
the voice of the LORD is majesty; (5) the voice of the LORD breaks cedars;
the LORD shatters the cedars of Lebanon. (6) God makes Lebanon skip like a calf,
Siryohn, like a young wild ox. (7) The voice of the LORD kindles flames of fire; (8) the voice of the LORD convulses the wilderness;
the LORD convulses the wilderness of Kadesh; (9) the voice of the LORD causes hinds to calve,
and strips forests bare;
while in God's temple all say “Glory!” (10) The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood;
the LORD sits enthroned, sovereign forever.
(11) May the LORD grant strength to God's people;
may the LORD bestow peace on God's people.

Context: This is Psalm 29, a nature psalm. It is also sung when we return the Torah on Shabbat, though usually to a different tune than is used for Friday evening. Note that the word “Kol” (voice) is in the psalm 7 times, and G-d’s name is in the psalm 18 times, two Jewishly-significant numbers.
What is something in your life for which you could use strength or peace?

Context: This is Spanish-Portuguese Friday evening tune for Mizmor L’David.

Context: This is Six13 singing the Shlomo Carlebach tune, though they stop singing the words pretty early in the tune. The Carlebach tune is in the wrong nusach mode for Kabbalat Shabbat — it is in the “Ahava Rabba” mode, which is petitionary, while it should be in the “Adoshem Malach” mode like the rest of the Kabbalat Shabbat service.

Context: This is another tune for Psalm 29 on Friday evening.

Context: This is a different Spanish-Portuguese version of Psalm 29.

Context: This is how Psalm 29 was sung in the American Colonial era, probably a Sephardic tune.

L'cha Dodi
See this sheet for a specific examination of L'cha Dodi and questions to develop a personal connection to each verse: https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/423883?lang=bi. L'cha Dodi is sometimes preceded by a mystical text called by its first words "Ana B'koach".

תהילים צ״ב

(א) מִזְמ֥וֹר שִׁ֗יר לְי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת׃ (ב) ט֗וֹב לְהֹד֥וֹת לַיהֹוָ֑ה וּלְזַמֵּ֖ר לְשִׁמְךָ֣ עֶלְיֽוֹן׃ (ג) לְהַגִּ֣יד בַּבֹּ֣קֶר חַסְדֶּ֑ךָ וֶ֝אֱמ֥וּנָתְךָ֗ בַּלֵּילֽוֹת׃ (ד) עֲֽלֵי־עָ֭שׂוֹר וַעֲלֵי־נָ֑בֶל עֲלֵ֖י הִגָּי֣וֹן בְּכִנּֽוֹר׃ (ה) כִּ֤י שִׂמַּחְתַּ֣נִי יְהֹוָ֣ה בְּפׇעֳלֶ֑ךָ בְּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֖י יָדֶ֣יךָ אֲרַנֵּֽן׃ (ו) מַה־גָּדְל֣וּ מַעֲשֶׂ֣יךָ יְהֹוָ֑ה מְ֝אֹ֗ד עָמְק֥וּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃ (ז) אִֽישׁ־בַּ֭עַר לֹ֣א יֵדָ֑ע וּ֝כְסִ֗יל לֹא־יָבִ֥ין אֶת־זֹֽאת׃ (ח) בִּפְרֹ֤חַ רְשָׁעִ֨ים ׀ כְּמ֥וֹ־עֵ֗שֶׂב וַ֭יָּצִיצוּ כׇּל־פֹּ֣עֲלֵי אָ֑וֶן לְהִשָּׁמְדָ֥ם עֲדֵי־עַֽד׃ (ט) וְאַתָּ֥ה מָר֗וֹם לְעֹלָ֥ם יְהֹוָֽה׃ (י) כִּ֤י הִנֵּ֪ה אֹיְבֶ֡יךָ ׀ יְֽהֹוָ֗ה כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֣ה אֹיְבֶ֣יךָ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ יִ֝תְפָּרְד֗וּ כׇּל־פֹּ֥עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃ (יא) וַתָּ֣רֶם כִּרְאֵ֣ים קַרְנִ֑י בַּ֝לֹּתִ֗י בְּשֶׁ֣מֶן רַעֲנָֽן׃ (יב) וַתַּבֵּ֥ט עֵינִ֗י בְּשׁ֫וּרָ֥י בַּקָּמִ֖ים עָלַ֥י מְרֵעִ֗ים תִּשְׁמַ֥עְנָה אׇזְנָֽי׃ (יג) צַ֭דִּיק כַּתָּמָ֣ר יִפְרָ֑ח כְּאֶ֖רֶז בַּלְּבָנ֣וֹן יִשְׂגֶּֽה׃ (יד) שְׁ֭תוּלִים בְּבֵ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה בְּחַצְר֖וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣ינוּ יַפְרִֽיחוּ׃ (טו) ע֭וֹד יְנוּב֣וּן בְּשֵׂיבָ֑ה דְּשֵׁנִ֖ים וְֽרַעֲנַנִּ֣ים יִהְיֽוּ׃ (טז) לְ֭הַגִּיד כִּֽי־יָשָׁ֣ר יְהֹוָ֑ה צ֝וּרִ֗י וְֽלֹא־[עַוְלָ֥תָה] (עלתה) בּֽוֹ׃ {פ}

Psalms 92

(1) A psalm. A song; for the sabbath day. (2) It is good to praise the LORD,
to sing hymns to Your name, O Most High, (3) To proclaim Your steadfast love at daybreak,
Your faithfulness each night (4) With a ten-stringed harp,
with voice and lyre together.
(5) You have gladdened me by Your deeds, O LORD;
I shout for joy at Your handiwork. (6) How great are Your works, O LORD,
how very subtle Your designs! (7) A brutish person cannot know,
a fool cannot understand this: (8) though the wicked sprout like grass,
though all evildoers blossom,
it is only that they may be destroyed forever.
(9) But You are exalted, O LORD, for all time.
(10) Surely, Your enemies, O LORD,
surely, Your enemies perish;
all evildoers are scattered. (11) You raise my horn high like that of a wild ox;
I am soaked in freshening oil. (12) I shall see the defeat of my watchful foes,
hear of the downfall of the wicked who beset me. (13) The righteous bloom like a date-palm;
they thrive like a cedar in Lebanon; (14) planted in the house of the LORD,
they flourish in the courts of our God. (15) In old age they still produce fruit;
they are full of sap and freshness, (16) attesting that the LORD is upright,
my rock, in whom there is no wrong.

Context: This is Psalm 92. When the Levites sang psalms in the Temple, this was the psalm assigned to Shabbat.

The rabbis compared the palm tree to the Jewish people -- just as each part of the palm is used for something, each member of the Jewish people can contribute something. (Bamidbar Rabbah 3:1). What can you contribute to the Jewish people?

Context: This is the Zamir Chorale singing Louis Lewandowski’s (1821-1894, German) version of Tzadik Katamar.

Context: This is a tune for the first part of Psalm 92.

Context: This is the dance version of Tzadik Katamar. The tune might be by Avi Maslo, or it might be by Amitai Ne'eman (1965; also the composer of "Zemer Atik").

Context: This is Shlomo Carlebach singing his tune for the beginning of the psalm.

תהילים צ״ג

(א) יְהֹוָ֣ה מָלָךְ֮ גֵּא֢וּת לָ֫בֵ֥שׁ לָבֵ֣שׁ יְ֭הֹוָה עֹ֣ז הִתְאַזָּ֑ר אַף־תִּכּ֥וֹן תֵּ֝בֵ֗ל בַּל־תִּמּֽוֹט׃ (ב) נָכ֣וֹן כִּסְאֲךָ֣ מֵאָ֑ז מֵעוֹלָ֣ם אָֽתָּה׃ (ג) נָשְׂא֤וּ נְהָר֨וֹת ׀ יְֽהֹוָ֗ה נָשְׂא֣וּ נְהָר֣וֹת קוֹלָ֑ם יִשְׂא֖וּ נְהָר֣וֹת דׇּכְיָֽם׃ (ד) מִקֹּל֨וֹת ׀ מַ֤יִם רַבִּ֗ים אַדִּירִ֣ים מִשְׁבְּרֵי־יָ֑ם אַדִּ֖יר בַּמָּר֣וֹם יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ה) עֵֽדֹתֶ֨יךָ ׀ נֶאֶמְנ֬וּ מְאֹ֗ד לְבֵיתְךָ֥ נַאֲוָה־קֹ֑דֶשׁ יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה לְאֹ֣רֶךְ יָמִֽים׃ {פ}

Psalms 93

(1) The LORD is sovereign,
God is robed in grandeur;
the LORD is robed,
God is girded with strength.
The world stands firm;
it cannot be shaken. (2) Your throne stands firm from of old;
from eternity You have existed. (3) The ocean sounds, O LORD,
the ocean sounds its thunder,
the ocean sounds its pounding. (4) Above the thunder of the mighty waters,
more majestic than the breakers of the sea
is the LORD, majestic on high. (5) Your decrees are indeed enduring;
holiness befits Your house,
O LORD, for all times.

Context: This is Psalm 93. When the Levites sang psalms in the Temple, this was the psalm for Friday. There is a cantorial tradition to switch from the “Adoshem Malach” mode into minor at the end of this psalm in anticipation of the nusach switch for Ma’ariv / Arvit.
Have you experienced waves before? How can they help you to understand G-d?

Context: This is a tune for the second half of Psalm 93.

סידור אשכנז, שבת, מעריב, קדיש יתום

(א) קדיש יתום:
אבל: יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. [קהל: אמן]
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
קהל ואבל: יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא:
אבל: יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. [קהל: בריך הוא:]
לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא בעשי”ת: לְעֵלָּא לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
עושה שָׁלום בעשי”ת: הַשָּׁלום בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]

Siddur Ashkenaz, Shabbat, Maariv, Mourner's Kaddish

May God's great name be exalted and hallowed throughout the created world, as is God's wish. May God's sovereignty soon be established, in your lifetime and in your days, and in the days of all the house of Israel. And we say: Amen.

May God's great name be acknowledged forever and ever!

May the name of the Holy One be acknowledged and celebrated, lauded and worshipped, exalted and honored, extolled and acclaimed -- though God, who is blessed b'rich hu is truly beyond all acknowledgement and praise, or any expressions of gratitude or consolation ever spoken in the world. And we say: Amen.

May Heaven bestow on us, and on all Israel, life and abundant and lasting peace. And we say: Amen.

May the One who creates peace on high bring peace to us and to all Israel. And we say: Amen

Context: This is the Mourner's Kaddish. It is here as punctuation, indicating that we've reached the end of this section of the Friday evening service.

Who is somebody that you are remembering?

Appendix: An a cappella Carlebach Kabbalat Shabbat Service

Context: This is Kippalive doing a service in harmony.