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One of the songs that is sung Friday night is Koh Ribon. There is not a single mention of Shabbos in it. Why do we sing it on Shabbos?

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4 Answers

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I'm gonna just guess - Zecher LeMa'aseh Bereishith/Zecher LiYtziath Mitzrayim. Sorry I don't have the freedom to look up sources on this at work.

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What does "Kah ribon" have to do with y'tzias Mitzrayim? – msh210♦ Nov 10 '11 at 23:58
"Master of the universe." He is All Powerful. Anyway, it was just a guess. – Seth J Nov 11 '11 at 3:01
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It speaks of the created world and praising HaShem for it i.e. G-d the Master of all Worlds, You are the Ruler, above all rulers. Your mighty deeds and wonders, it is beautiful​ to declare before You. I will sing Your praises in the morning and the evenings, to You Holy G-d Who created every soul, the angels above, all people, and the beasts that roam the grounds and the birds of the sky. Translation from here where there is a catchy recording.

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Why the downvote? Other than the fact that it's exactly what I meant, so it's sort of duplicate, though more specific, I see no reason for someone to downvote this answer. – Seth J Nov 11 '11 at 3:02
@SethJ, I downvoted, as it doesn't answer the question: it says what the song's about and translates part of it, but doesn't explain what Shabas has to do with it, which is what the question asked. – msh210♦ Nov 11 '11 at 16:12
up vote 1 down vote

There is not a single mention of Shabbos in Koh Ribon...

...or Tzur Mishelo, or Kel Adon, or the special Kedushas on Shabbat morning, or the extra psalms in P'sukei D'zimra, or the deluxe version of taking out the Torah.

Shabbos is just a very special day! It has the special mitzvot of Kavod and Oneg. Not everything has to announce its connection to Shabbos. Just spending a little more time eating, davening, and singing is also an honor and a pleasure.

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Fair enough, except that, re "the extra psalms in P'sukei D'zimra", we do say Mizmor shir l'yom hashabas. – msh210♦ Nov 13 '11 at 17:52
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@msh210, yes, but at least in Nusach Ashkenaz, we say it on weekday yomtovs too, so I figured I would include it. – JXG Nov 14 '11 at 9:38
up vote 2 down vote

What is Shabbat if not the proclamation that Gd is the Master of the world?

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