The Songs We Sing
Shabbat zemirot are traditional songs we sing during the Shabbat meals. These zemirot are century years old and by singing them, we connect to our Jewish tradition and transform our Shabbat table into an elevated experience.
Welcome In!
We open the Friday night meal with “Shalom Aleichem,” a song composed by a kabbalist (we don’t know exactly who) a few hundred years ago. The theme of the song is welcoming the angels who accompany us home from shul (synagogue). Based on Talmudic teaching1, this kabbalistic song acknowledges that when the malachim (angels) find a beautifully set table, the “good” angel blesses the household and the “bad” angel must respond “Amen (its true).”
In the last stanza of Shalom Aleichem, we say “Tzeitchem L’shalom”, we tell the angels to go in peace. But why are we chasing them away?
Some suggest that at this point, at the beginning of the meal, the angels are happy with us and impressed that we have successfully brought in Shabbat and have the table all set. However, we are afraid we may do or say something during the seudah (meal) that will cause the angels to depart in anger and possibly level accusations against us in the heavenly courts. To play it safe, we graciously escort them out so we can part on good terms.2
We Hope You Enjoyed Your Stay
Others say these angels stay the entire Shabbat and we aren’t telling them to leave. Saying tzeitchem l’shalom is simply a polite way of greeting someone, saying “May you come in peace and may you leave in peace,” meaning when you actually leave, at the end of Shabbat, you should go in peace.3
After Shalom Aleichem the custom is to sing Eishet Chayil, which was written by Shlomo Hamelech (King Solomon) in Sefer Mishlei and was introduced a few hundred years ago by masters of kabbalah. On the surface, it seems to be praising the woman of the house, showing appreciation to the wife who worked so hard to make sure everything was ready for Shabbat.4 However, there are much deeper reasons why we recite Eishet Chayil. Many sources say that Eishet Chayil has mystical references to the Shechinah (Divine Presence) and this is probably the main reason it was introduced.
Something Special
All three Shabbat Seudot have songs customarily sung at that meal. Most of the zemirot focus on the sanctity of Shabbat, our connection with Hashem, and our unequivocal acceptance of Hashem and His Torah. These zemirot have many different tunes, usually based on geographic location (Sefardim may have different tunes than Ashkenazim, or different Chassidim will have different tunes). No matter the musical differences, all Jews sing joyously at their Shabbat seudot, enhancing their meals with music.
At Melaveh Malka, the post-Shabbat meal, some sing special songs that escort the Shabbat Queen and express hope for Eliyahu Hanavi’s arrival, announcing Mashiach – a possibility that opens only after Shabbat departs.5
Getting Deeper
Singing zemirot on Shabbat is a cherished tradition that dates back to the times of the Rishonim. The Sefer HaRokeach, who lived in the late 1,100s, writes6 that even in his days, people sang zemirot at the Shabbat table. The Yesod VeShoresh Ha’Avodah, a student of the Vilna Gaon, teaches that honoring Hashem on Shabbat should go beyond spending money on delicious food. We must also honor Him with our voices by singing zemirot filled with holiness and meaning.
Rooted In The Word
The mystical pull of music is no coincidence. In Hebrew, the word lezamer means “to sing,” and shares a root with lizmor, “to prune.” Just as pruning removes what’s unnecessary to let beauty flourish, song helps us cut away the burdens and distractions of the week. Singing reveals our truest selves. It brings harmony to the inner disharmony we accumulate, allowing us to enter Shabbat lighter, more peaceful, and more connected.
When we sing zemirot on Shabbat, we are transforming ourselves. We feel the simchah (happiness) and kedushah (sanctity) of Shabbat more deeply. These songs are not ordinary; many were composed by tzaddikim and gedolim (Torah giants) who infused every word with spiritual power. The Beit Aharon taught that zemirot are like wings that lift the Shabbat meal up to the Kisei HaKavod, Hashem’s holy throne!
Exclusively For Us
The Tosafot7 quotes a Midrash that says the angelic beings called Chayot are not permitted to sing on Shabbat. Instead, this privilege is given exclusively to Klal Yisrael (the Jewish nation). When we sing zemirot, we are fulfilling a role higher than the angels, praising Hashem in a uniquely human and holy way.
Moreover, singing zemirot connects us to the souls of their composers. Chazal teach that when someone says the words of a tzaddik (righteous torah scholar), it causes that tzaddik’s lips to move in the next world.8 When we sing zemirot, we awaken the soul of the composer and draw on the spiritual strength they embedded in their songs. This is one reason many composers include their names within the zemirot they wrote, because it’s a signature of spiritual authorship and connection.
The Pele Yoetz9 brings a beautiful story about Rav Yisrael Najara, who composed the beloved song of Kah Ribon. One Shabbat, while singing with a melodious voice in Tzfat, the angels descended from heaven to listen. But when Rav Najara rolled up his sleeves due to the heat, the angels left, feeling it was not respectful enough for someone of his stature to have his arms exposed. The Arizal, who was standing outside, witnessed the angel’s departure and quickly rushed in to tell Rav Yisrael. After hearing that, he respectfully adjusted his attire and resumed singing, and the angels returned to hear him sing!
Faith Leads To Song
The connection between singing and Shabbat goes back to the time of the splitting of the Yam Suf. After the sea split and all the Jews witnessed Hashem’s great miracle, the Torah says, “Vaya’aminu baShem… az yashir Moshe” – they believed in Hashem, and then they sang.
Emunah (faith) came first, and song naturally followed. So too, Shabbat is a day of emunah. We stop working, place our trust in Hashem to care for us, and turn our focus to our connection with Him. Singing zemirot on Shabbat is our own Az Yashir, a heartfelt expression of faith and gratitude.
When we sing on Shabbat, we are pruning away the excess of the week, revealing the beauty of our souls, connecting to Hashem, and joining a spiritual symphony that echoes from our tables to the heavens.
Excerpted from Oorah’s Torah Nuggets
Shabbat Part 1 – Sources:
1 Shabbos 119b
2 R` Yaakov Emden (Yaavetz), also quoted by the
Anaf Yosef
3 Machatzis Hashekel 262:1
4 Otzar Taamei Haminhagim Shaar 5 #2
5 Tur and Shulchan Aruch 295:1
6 Siman 54
8 Peleh Yoetz – Shir
9 Peleh Yoetz – Achila V’shesiya
