SABBATH BLESSING

Kiddush Blessing (Abreviated)

 Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

 Verse of 'Va'yechulu' - Genesis 2:1-3

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

 L'cha Doedee

 Come my beloved to welcome the bride, the presence of Shabbat we receive.

"Observe and Remember" in one divine utterance, we heard from the One and Only God, the Lord is One, and His Name One, for renown, for splendor, and for praise. Come my beloved.

 Shake of the dust, arise! Dress in garments of glory, my people, through the son of Jesse, the Bethlehemite, redemption draws near to my soul. Come my beloved.

  Wake up, wake up! For your light has come, awaken, awaken, sign a song, for the glory of the Lord is revealed to you! Come my beloved.

  Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2, Page 63b - AND MOSES SAID UNTO THEM, LET NO MAN LEAVE OF IT UNTIL THE MORNING. R. Judah said: Every day the world is blessed through that superior day, the Seventh. For the six Days receive blessing from the seventh, and each dispenses the blessing so received on its own day, but not on the next. Hence the Israelites were commanded not to leave of the manna till the morning. The sixth day has more blessing than the rest, for on this day, as R. Eleazar has said, the Shekinah prepares the table for the King. Hence the sixth day has two portions, one for itself and one in preparation for the joy of the union of the King with the Shekinah, which takes place on Sabbath night, and from which all the six days of the week derive their blessing. For that reason the table has to be prepared on the Sabbath night, so that when the blessings descend from above they may find something on which to rest, as it were, for "no blessing rests on an empty table". Those who are aware of this mystery of the union of the Holy One with the Shekinah on Sabbath night consider, therefore, this time the most appropriate one for their own marital union.’ SEE FOR THAT THE LORD HATH GIVEN YOU THE SABBATH. What is the meaning of the word "Sabbath"? The day in which all the other days rest, the day which comprises the other days, and from which they derive blessing. R. Jose said: ‘The Community of Israel is also called "Sabbath", for she is God's spouse. That is why the Sabbath is called "Bride", and it is written, "Ye shall keep the Sabbath, for it is holy unto you" (Ex. XXXI, 13): it is holy to you, but not to other nations; "it is a sign between me and the children of Israel" (Ibid. v, 17): it is Israel's eternal heritage.’

 Sabbath Psalms

 Shemoth, Section 2, Page 136b-138a - Therefore David uttered this Psalm of praise, through the Holy Spirit, in regard to the light and the effulgence of the Sabbath and its pre-eminence over the other days of the week because of the mystery of the Supernal Name which in it lightens up and radiates and sparkles in the spheres of holiness, and is completed above and below. ‘Therefore the "Men of the Great Synagogue" have ordered that this Psalm of David should be the first one to be sung on the Sabbath day, since it refers to those particular "Heavens" which lighten all the others. Then follows (in the liturgy) that "river which goes out of Eden", alluded to in the Psalm which follows this one in the Sabbath service: "Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous" (Ps. XXXIII); for this "River" gathers into itself the whole mystery of the "heavens" and the source of life on this day, and the sun is perfected for its appointed task of the distribution of light. Then the Moon, when she separates herself from the "other side"- as on this day she does-in order to receive light from the sun, is alluded to in the Psalm following this one, namely (Ps. XXXIV): "Of David, when he changed his behaviour towards Abimelech." When the "other side" has separated itself from the "Moon", then the latter is united with the "Sun", and therefore this Psalm begins (acrostically) with the twenty-two letters of the Hebrew alphabet, signifying the merging of the Sun with the Moon. Then follows the union of the Matrona with Her Spouse: "A prayer of Moses, the man of God" (Ps. xc): He spreads out both His right and His left hands to receive Her and to unite Himself with Her in perfect union. Then follow other psalms of joy and ardent longing. "A psalm. Sing unto the Lord a new song, for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand and his holy arm hath wrought salvation for him" (Ps. XCVIII). This Psalm has been expounded elsewhere, and the Companions were perfectly correct in their assertion that it was chanted by the kine who bore the sacred ark. [Tr. note: v Zohar, Genesis, 123a.] This corresponded to the mystery above: when the "living beings,’ (Hayoth) lay hold of the Throne in order to raise it to the highest heights, then we sing this Psalm. As to the question, why, then, is it called "new" when it is perpetually being repeated, the fact is that it is indeed a "new song" because it refers to the "new" moon at the time when she receives light from the sun. "His right hand and his holy arm hath wrought salvation for him": this denotes the rousing of the right and the left hand to receive Her (the Moon, signifying the Shekinah) when She arrives at "Beth Shemesh", the "House of the Sun", which hands receive and bear Her even as the kine bare the ark. This psalm of praise was therefore ordered to be chanted on the Sabbath by the "one people", namely the children of Israel. (Ps. XCII): "A song. A psalm for (to) the sabbath day. It is good to praise the Lord, to sing unto thy name, O most high. To proclaim thy lovingkindness in the morning and thy faithfulness in the nights." It has been established by the Companions that this hymn of praise was sung by the first man (Adam) after he had been driven out of the Garden of Eden, when the Sabbath drew nigh unto the Holy One and interceded for the created being. Then he sang this hymn in honour of the Sabbath which had delivered him. It is a hymn of praise sung by the world below to the world above, to a world which is altogether "Sabbath", the sphere of the "King whose is the peace". It is a hymn of the sabbath below unto the Sabbath above: the sabbath below, which is like night, sings to the Sabbath above, which is like day. In fact, whenever "Sabbath" is mentioned it refers to the "eve of the Sabbath" (i.e. the Shekinah), but when it says "the Sabbath day", it denotes the Supernal Sabbath (i.e. Tifereth). The former is symbolized by the Female, the latter by the Male. Thus "And the children of Israel should keep the Sabbath" (Ex. XXXI, I6) alludes to the Female, which is the night (layla), and "remember the Sabbath day" (Ibtd. xx, 8) alludes to the Male. Thus the sabbath here below sings a hymn to the Sabbath above. Therefore this psalm is anonymous, as we find everywhere where there is a reference to the world below (the Shekinah) that the Name is not actually mentioned, as, for example, "And he called unto Moses" (Lev. 1, I), "And to Moses he said, go up to the Lord" (Ex. XXIX, I). Since in this psalm reference is made to a higher sphere, therefore the divine name is not applied to the lower grade, just as a candle cannot shine in the sunlight. All the hymns sung in praise of and on the Sabbath are the aids to its ascension to supernal regions where it is crowned with supernal holy crowns above all other days.

 The hymns sung in praise (which are equivalent to prayers), are directed to the the time when God and His bride, His people, are unified as one.

Praise to the Creator and Preserver

 Psalm 33

 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings

 Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.

 For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.

 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

 He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

 Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

 Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.

 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.

 Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

<<A Psalm of David, when he changed his behavior before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.>>

 Psalm 34

 I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.

 I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.

 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.

 Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.

 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

 Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.

 The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.

PSALMS 90

 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men.

 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

 Thou cariest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up.

 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth.

 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.

 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath.

 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

 Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants.

 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.

 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children.

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Psalm 98

 Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

 The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.

 He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;

 make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,

 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King.

 Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

 Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy;

let them sing before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Further Reading:

Psalm 92

Psalm 31

Psalm 36