Kabbalistic Shabbat Zemirot
Many of us sing Shabbat zemirot every week and while some are easily understandable, others have very deep kabbalistic concepts which most translations don’t fully convey. Join Rabbi Avraham Shira as he learns through several well known zemirot with the goal of helping us gain a better grasp on the meaning behind the words.
Kabbalistic Shabbat Zemirot: Lesson
Shalom to All. Welcome to a new semester on Web Yeshiva. We’re always excited to begin a new area of exploration and this zman we will look at Shabbat zermirot through the lens of Kabbalah. Along the way, we should pick up some history and chassidut thought about the importance of singing on shabbat, and perhaps the deeper elements of why singing is so important to human beings in general.
Tonight we will begin with Keil Mistater, a song generally sung at 3rd meal. I chose this because it is a classic kabbalaistic primer for beginning to understanding something of the Sefirot, their nature, qualities and paralells in Biblical literature. Each translation is an exercise in discipline and interpretation and requires attention to detail and background in the material.
I look to all of you being there.
Avraham Shira
Kabbalistic Shabbat Zemirot: Lesson
Shalom and Welcome. Tomorrow night we will continue our look at Shabbat zemirot through the lens of Kabbalah with the well known songs of Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, beginning with Azamer b’Shvachim, ‘I will trim the evil forces with praise.’ These songs are remarkable condensations of kabbalaistic teach, philosophy and sometimes techniques for drawing close to Hashem. Look forward to seeing everyone there. For a copy of the song and its translation, please go to Opensiddur.org, or most artscroll and Chabad siddurim.
Avraham Shira
Kabbalistic Shabbat Zemirot: Lesson
Shalom and Welcome. Tomorrow night we will continue looking at the songs of the Arizal, completing Azamer bShvachim. These kabbalaistic masterpieces guide us the metaphoric journey of spiritual powers representative of Jewish practice from the Beit haMikdash till today. It is a pleasure and priveledge to learn these songs together. Please find the texts translated in some Art Scroll siddurim and opensiddur.org. Look forward to seeing you there.
Avraham Shira
Kabbalistic Shabbat Zemirot: Lesson
Shalom and Welcome to our series on Shabbat zemirot. This evening we will learn the Shabbat morning song, ‘Asader l’Seudata’. The Arizal continues with the motif of the king bringing in his bride, and the wedding like celebration, but it is clearly more a reflection of the jewish people and the shechina and Shabbat. Look forward to seeing you there.
Avraham Shira
Kabbalistic Shabbat Zemirot: Lesson
Shalom and Welcome to our last class in the Series of Kaballah and the Shabbat Zemeriot. Tomorrow night we will explore the famous,’Benei Heichala’ song sung at third meal which is the climax and conclusion of the Shabbat experience for the King, Queen and their family at the Holy Table. Look forward to seeing you their.
Avraham Shira
Rabbi Avraham Shira received smicha from Rabbi Benayahu Shmueli, Rosh Yeshivat HaMekubalim, Nahar Shalom, in Jerusalem. He has been a student and teacher in the Yeshiva since 1993. Since 1996 he has taught for twelve years at the Berot Bat Ayin Seminary, specializing in Likutei Moharan, and conducting workshops in meditation, and spiritual creative writing. He has also received a Masters Degree in Clinical Sociology & Family Therapy from the University of North Texas, Neve Yerushalayim Campus. Rabbi Shira has published a novel and translates a newsletter for Nahar Shalom. He lives with his wife, Elisheva and their five children in Bat Ayin, Gush Etzion.