Lecha dodi
Lecha dodi
The hymn for the Shabbat welcome is “Lecha Dodi.” This 16th-century poem, written by Shlomo Alkabetz, has inspired numerous cantors and composers. In Hungary and throughout the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, Salomon Sulzer’s composition is the best known.
This poem was written by Rabbi Solomon Halevy Alkabetz, whose name שְׁלֹמֹה הַלֵוִי is spelled out by the first letter of each stanza. In this poem, the bridegroom (Israel) calls to his Beloved Friend (God) asking that He join him in welcoming his bride (the Sabbath). The concept of welcoming the Sabbath goes back to Talmudic times. Rabbi Chanina robed himself and stood at sunset on the eve of the Sabbath and exclaimed, “Come! Let us go forth to welcome the Sabbath Queen.” Rabbi Yanai garbed himself in festive attire on Sabbath eve and exclaimed; “Come bride, Come bride” (Talmud Bavli Shabat 119a)
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּ֒לָה:
שָׁמוֹר וְזָכוֹר בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד. הִשְׁמִיעָֽנוּ אֵל הַמְיוּחָד. יְהֹוָה אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד. לְשֵׁם וּלְתִפְאֶֽרֶת וְלִתְהִלָּה:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּ֒לָה:
לִקְרַאת שַׁבָּת לְכוּ וְנֵלְ֒כָה. כִּי הִיא מְקוֹר הַבְּ֒רָכָה. מֵרֹאשׁ מִקֶּֽדֶם נְסוּכָה. סוֹף מַעֲשֶׂה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִלָּה:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּ֒לָה:
מִקְדַּשׁ מֶֽלֶךְ עִיר מְלוּכָה. קֽוּמִי צְאִי מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה. רַב לָךְ שֶֽׁבֶת בְּעֵֽמֶק הַבָּכָא. וְהוּא יַחְמוֹל עָלַֽיִךְ חֶמְלָה:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּ֒לָה:
הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר קֽוּמִי. לִבְשִׁי בִּגְדֵי תִפְאַרְתֵּךְ עַמִּי. עַל יַד בֶּן יִשַּׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי. קָרְבָה אֶל נַפְשִׁי גְּאָלָהּ:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּ֒לָה:
הִתְעוֹרְ֒רִי. הִתְעוֹרְ֒רִי. כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ קֽוּמִי אֽוֹרִי. עֽוּרִי עֽוּרִי שִׁיר דַּבֵּֽרִי. כְּבוֹד יְהֹוָה עָלַֽיִךְ נִגְלָה:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּ֒לָה:
לֹא תֵבֽוֹשִׁי וְלֹא תִכָּלְ֒מִי. מַה תִּשְׁתּוֹחֲחִי וּמַה תֶּהֱמִי. בָּךְ יֶחֱסוּ עֲנִיֵּי עַמִּי. וְנִבְנְ֒תָה עִיר עַל תִּלָּהּ:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּ֒לָה:
וְהָיוּ לִמְשִׁסָּה שֹׁסָֽיִךְ. וְרָחֲקוּ כָּל מְבַלְּ֒עָֽיִךְ. יָשִׂישׂ עָלַֽיִךְ אֱלֹהָֽיִךְ. כִּמְשׂוֹשׂ חָתָן עַל כַּלָּה:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּ֒לָה:
יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל תִּפְרֽוֹצִי. וְאֶת יְהֹוָה תַּעֲרִֽיצִי. עַל יַד אִישׁ בֶּן פַּרְצִי. וְנִשְׂמְ֒חָה וְנָגִֽילָה:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּ֒לָה:
בּֽוֹאִי בְשָׁלוֹם עֲטֶֽרֶת בַּעְלָהּ. גַּם בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְצָהֳלָה. תּוֹךְ אֱמוּנֵי עַם סְגֻלָּה. בֹּֽאִי כַלָּה בֹּֽאִי כַלָּה בֹּֽאִי כַלָּה שַׁבָּת מַלְכְּתָא:
לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּ֒לָה:
Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.
“Preserve” and “Remember” in a single utterance the One Almighty caused us to hear; Adonoy is One, and His Name is One; for fame, for glory, and for praise.
Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.
To greet the Sabbath, come let us go for it is the source of blessing; from the very beginning, of old, it was appointed; last in creation, first in [God's] thought.
Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.
Sanctuary of the King, royal city, arise, come forth from the upheaval; too long have you dwelt in the valley of weeping; He will show you abundant pity.
Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.
Shake the dust off yourself, arise, dress up in your garments of glory, my people; through the son of Yishai the Bethlehemite, draw near to my soul and redeem it.
Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.
Wake up! wake up! for your light has come, arise and shine. Awaken! awaken! utter a song, The glory of Adonoy is revealed upon you.
Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.
Feel not ashamed or humiliated why are you bowed down, why do you moan? In you will take refuge the poor of my people; and the city will be rebuilt on its ancient site.
Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.
They will be ravaged, those who ravaged you, and they will be cast far off, all who devour you. Your God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.
Right and left you will spread out. and Adonoy, you will praise; through the man descended from Peretz we will rejoice and exult.
Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.
Come in peace, crown of her husband, come rejoicing and with good cheer; amidst the faithful of the treasured people. Come Bride, come Bride, come Bride, Shabbos Queen!
Come my Beloved Friend to greet the bride, let us welcome the Sabbath.
