“The prophets sang with instruments to go into states of joy and then begin to prophesy.” (Melachim 3:15)
Kabalat Shabbat was introduced in the XVI century, in the times of the Kabbalists of Tzfat which consists of six psalms, Leja Dodi and the psalm of Adam “Mizmor Shir le Yom HaShabat.” All these songs are sung between Mincha and Arvit to usher in the Shabbat with a joyful heart. Whoever has been to the Kottel in Jerusalem at this time has experienced one of the most subliminal experiences when every type of Jew come together as one and dance and sing together.
The famous Leja Dodi is based in the custom of the times of the Talmud in which Rabbi Hanina used to wrap himself in a talit (shawl men wear to pray) before Shabbat and he used to tell his students “let’s go and meet the Shabbat Queen.” On the other hand, his colleague Rabbi Yanai would sit down in beautiful clothes while he said “Boi Kallah, Boi Kallah” (come bride, come bride).
The sages comment that these were two approaches in which at the moment of receiving the additional soul given to us on Shabbat should be done actively or passively.Rabbi Hanina would go out to receive it and he would call it queen and Rabbi Yanai would sit down and would call her bride. This explains that when we are going to receive the Shabbat we call her bride and when we finish the song she becomes a queen “Shabbat Malketa.” When a man marries his bride he has to make her his queen.
So these songs which are so full of meaning arouse in us joy and love for one another.
Shabbat Shalom
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