Erev Shabbat Jewish Blogging

[gnomi]

This week, Shabbat Z'mirot

Z'mirot (singular: z'mirah) are liturgical songs. Specifically, Shabbat z'mirot are the songs we sing on Shabbat at the three meals commanded for the day.

Because Hebrew calendar days start in the evening, the three meals at which we sing z'mirot are Friday night dinner, Saturday lunch, and a meal on Saturday called "se'udah shlishit" (which translates as "third meal" and is traditionally eaten after mincha (the afternoon service) on Saturday afternoon).

Each meal has a set of songs that are associated with it, but people tend sing whichever of the z'mirot they want to at either dinner or lunch (while there are specific ones that are traditionally only associated with se'udah shlishit). The texts of the z'mirot traditionally speak of the laws of Shabbat, or of the Jews' relationship to Hashem through Shabbat observance.

There are CDs of Shabbat z'mirot available. Because I love a cappella music, I highly recommend West Side Z'mirot from Beat'achon.

Shabbat shalom!

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An administrative note -- if people have topics they'd like me to cover in future Erev Shabbat Jewish Blogging posts, please let me know. As mabfan can attest, I sometimes have trouble coming up with topics.

Comments

[beckyfeld.livejournal.com]

There should not be such a thing as a "SAV"! It's either a "TAV" or a "SOV". That said, however, Aaron also insists that such a letter exists :-(

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

Heh. I learned the art of Ashkesfard from R. Hochberg. :-)

[beckyfeld.livejournal.com]

I remember...

With Aaron, when he learned the Aleph-Bet he was taught that the last letter is "saf" and if you point to one he'll tell you that that's what the letter is called. However, since his Hebrew teacher is Israeli, he actually _reads_ the letter as if it were a taf.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

And, anyway, "sov" is what a sevivon does. :-)

[magid.livejournal.com]

No, that's what a third of a sevivon does, according to the song :-)