yaya@bernstein-plus-sons.com
This is a conservative Jewish Friday night Shabbos service, based on Siddur Sim Shalom, Rabbi Jules Harlow, editor, from the Rabbincal Assembly, The United Synagogue of America, New York, 1985.
The service we present is a mixture of Hebrew and English, beginning with some of the prayers normally performed at home, followed by a substantial Kabbalat Shabbat service, ending with a Mourner's Kaddish. After the Kabblat Shabbat service, there is an opportunity for the leader of the service to teach, in which case a Kaddish De-rabbanan is said.
The Shabbat Evening service proper begins with Borachu and ends with Aleinu and a final Mourner's Kaddish.
In some places we have provided links to MP3 clips or M4V videos of melodies that may prove interesting.
The typical Friday night Shabbos service begins at home with the prayer for lighting the Shabbos candles on page 717 and the meditations on page 719 and 720. If these have not been done at home, the service begins here:
At this point in the service it is appropriate for the leader of the service to teach, in which case, the study session is completed with Kaddish De-rabbanan on page 274. Many congregants are not familiar with this Kaddish, and, even though all mourners should be invited to stand and lead this Kaddish, the Reader should be especially well prepared and should lead it slowly and clearly.
Borachu-- page 279; Reader, then congregation, then Reader singing in Hebrew.
Hamaariv Arovim
Ahavas Olom
Sh'ma
Silent reading -- page 288 - page 290 (first 4 lines)
Me Chamocha
Hashkivenu
V'shomru
Hatzi Kaddish
Amidah -- pages 296-303, silently in Hebrew or English, standing
Vay'chulu -- page 314, first paragraph, Reader or Congregational Singing
Reader -- page 314, second paragraph in Hebrew
Mogayn Ovos -- Congregational Singing - page 314, third paragraph in Hebrew
V'tarhayr Lebaynu -- Reader, page 314, last paragraph in Hebrew
Kaddish Shalem -- Reader, page 316 in Hebrew
Kiddush -- Reader, page 318 (first paragraph) with Congregational Singing in Hebrew. All stand for this.
Optional sermon and/or announcements
Counting the Omer, if appropriate
Aleinu -- standing
Mourner's Kaddish -- page 324 (last 14 lines). Congregants should respond with "Omayn" after "Raboh" on the first line, after "V'imruh Omayn" on the third line, join in on "Y'hey sh'may ... olmayoh" on line 5, join in on "Borich Hu" on line 8, and respond with "Omayn" after each subsequent "V'imruh Omayn".
Additional psalms and kaddishes, if desired.
Closing song -- either Yigdal on page 326 or Adon Olom on page 514.
Shabbos greetings -- songs, Oneg Shabbat, socializing.
A New Translation
by
Herbert J. Bernstein
Love, You hold my soul, from You sweet mercy flows,
Take me in Your service to serve Your heart's desire.
Let me run to You like deer upon the hills,
Joyously to bow, submitting to Your will,
Savoring love's taste which, flowing on my tongue,
As sweet as honey's touch, is that for which I long.
The glory of Your love fills my world with light.
My soul in endless yearning seeks Your love's delight
Please, dear God, I beg You to grant the cure it needs
Grant my soul the pleasure to find that light so sweet.
Then, strong and cured by having reached that star,
My soul will serve forever the beauty that You are.
God of mercy, please, my God for all my life,
Have mercy on this child, this child of love's delight.
Let me share the love for which I've always burned,
The splendor of the passion to which I've always turned.
Please, God, dear God, please feel my heart's desire,
And do not quench with silence the burning of this fire.
Let go Your veil, my love, for us there's no pretense.
Together in Your mantle, we'll find ourselves content.
Light the way in splendor, bring glory to my world,
Hear our joyful laughter surround us as we whirl.
Wait no more for love, it's here to have, to hold.
Let me share Your favor, till time itself grows old.
*Yedid Nefesh, by Rabbi Eleazar Azikri, is sung by many Jewish congregations on Friday night. This translation is an attempt to preserve the passionate, joyous spirit both of the original text and of the service.
-- Copyright © 1993 Herbert J. Bernstein