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5
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2answers
221 views
Is repeating the chorus in Lecha Dodi problematic?
Some tunes for Lecha Dodi are conducive to repeating the chorus ("Lecha dodi ...") twice each time. I've noticed that some people, when using one of these tunes, repeat, while others avoid repeating ...
5
votes
1answer
70 views
Zmirot vs Pizmoniim
How is it that Ashkenaz and Sfardiim have different names for the same exact thing.
Do both Zmira and Pizmon mean the same thing? What are the origination of people calling them either one?
I know ...
6
votes
2answers
98 views
Go in Peace - why are we sending the Angels away
On Friday night we welcome the angels by singing Shalom Aleichem the question is why do we tell them:
צֵאתְכֶם לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאָכֵי עֶלְיוֹן
Essentially sending them away ...
3
votes
1answer
76 views
Shalosh Seudos song - B'Vo'o M'Edom/Yetzave Tzur Chasdo
At Shalosh Seudos - the third Shabbos meal often the song B'Vo'o M'Edom/Yetzave Tzur Chasdo is sung. Some people/Shuls start from B'Vo'o M'Edom and some people/shuls start from Yetzave Tzur Chasdo. ...
3
votes
1answer
96 views
Parts of Shabbos prayers sung out loud
Many synagogues sing Kel Odon and Mimkomcho on Shabbos morning. Why are these two the most commonly sung parts of the Shabbos morning Tefila?
6
votes
4answers
86 views
Koh Ribon - what connection does it have to Shabbos?
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?
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Why has the zemiroh על אהבתך אשתה גביעי fallen out of favour?
We used to sing a zemiroh, I believe by Rabbi Yehudah HaLevi, which started, על אהבתך אשתה גביעי. This zemiroh does not appear in current zemiros books. (1) Do you have an online text of it? (2) Why ...
19
votes
1answer
237 views
Pronouncing Hashem's name in a song
Some people are very careful to say Hashem or Elokim when singing a song with one of G-d's names in it so as not to use His name in vain (related question), but I have also been told this is ...
2
votes
2answers
65 views
Is there a CD containing some of the melodies of Yom Kippur?
I'm looking for a specific prayer we say on Yom Kippur as an audio file, as I'd really like to write music for it. The prayer is in the repetition of the amidah of both Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur ...
4
votes
2answers
78 views
“Poems” in Selichos. Names and structures of Pizmon and Shalmonis. Please explain
What is (1) the meaning of the names and (2) the structure of the “poems” found in Selichos particularly the Pizmon and the Shalmonis.
(3) I note that the number of phrases in the first verse of the ...
5
votes
0answers
79 views
Why are the kinos about Jeremiah's appeal to the avos out of order?
The kina (elegy, said on the ninth of Av) about Jeremiah's going to ask the avos to pray (kina 21 in at least some versions) is said before the one about Tziyon's telling him to do so (22). Why this ...
4
votes
3answers
206 views
Kol Mekadesh - sung Friday Night - המאחרים לצאת מן השבת וממהרים לבא
In Kol Mekadesh that is sung Friday night it says המאחרים לצאת מן השבת וממהרים לבא which seems out of order. Do we not first rush into Shabbos and then delay its departure? Then why do we sing it in ...
1
vote
1answer
23 views
Commentary on “Amar H' Leya'akov”
Do you know of any interesting commentaries on the song "Amar H' Leya'akov" that's part of the after-Shabbat liturgy?
3
votes
2answers
132 views
והוא ידרוש לציון עיר ה…
In the song "ברוך א׳ עליון" (text) is the line:
וְהוּא יִדְרֹשׁ לְצִיּוֹן עִיר הַנִּדָּחָה
My grandfather, ע״ה, when singing this line, would replace הַנִּדָּחָה with another word (I think ...
7
votes
3answers
229 views
Correct Nusach for Ana Bechoach (אנא בכח)
In אנא בכח, I've usually said "בָּרְכֵם, טַהֲרֵם, רַחֲמֵי צִדְקָתְךָ תָּמִיד גָמְלֵם". However, in my Artscroll Siddur I noticed it says רחמם (with a ם instead of י). Which of these are correct?
5
votes
3answers
81 views
How a couple lines in Alenu fit the pattern
It has been pointed out to me that the two halves of the "Alenu" prayer follow a pretty strict pattern. Each contains eight parallel couplets, followed by a Biblical quote. I broke it all down myself, ...
4
votes
2answers
242 views
What exactly is the story behind the person who wrote the Akdomus (said on Shavous)
On Shavous morning we say the poem Akdomus, and supposedly there's a fascinating story with the Baal Akdomus and the Sambatyon river (something about it being quiet on Shabbos which is why he was only ...
4
votes
3answers
137 views
Do angels sing?
After reading the last Tosfos on Chullin 91b ( http://hebrewbooks.org/shas.aspx?mesechta=31&daf=91b&format=text) I wondered if angels sing? Is there an explicit source in Tanach that they ...
6
votes
2answers
354 views
Nun in Ashrei- Psalm 145
The prayer Ashrei, which we recite three times a day, is an acrostic consisting of all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet except for nun (נ). Why is the nun omitted?
3
votes
1answer
74 views
2
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1answer
76 views
0
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1answer
64 views
Poems on Atticism by Samuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)
Can anyone find poems on Atticism for me by Samuel David Luzzatto (Shadal)?
3
votes
1answer
105 views
Turning back around after Lcha Dodi
After Lcha dodi at what point exactly do the congregants and the Chazzan supposed to turn Back around?
8
votes
4answers
113 views
Possessions on a tree where Hung
In Maoz Tzur we say:
רֹב בָּנָיו וְקִנְיָנָיו עַל הָעֵץ תָּלִיתָ
Did we really hang his (Haman's) possessions on a tree?
2
votes
1answer
65 views
3
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1answer
40 views
Shir Urinanim- Whats the diffrence?
In Ma'oz Tzur, it says:
וּמִנּוֹתַר קַנְקַנִּים נַעֲשָׂה נֵס לַשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים
בְּנֵי בִינָה יְמֵי שְׁמוֹנָה קָבְעוּ שִׁיר וּרְנָנִים
What is the Difference between Shirim and Rinanim?
5
votes
6answers
286 views
fish before meat - why?
To the best of my knowledge eating fish after meat has the same Halacha as eating meat after fish. You are supposed to eat a cracker and take a drink to seperate between them. Why is it most common ...
2
votes
1answer
88 views
Is it “Vay-SHA-vucha” or “Va-YASH-vucha” in Anim Zemiros?
Is it "Vay-SHA-vucha" or "Va-YASH-vucha" in Anim Zemiros? I've heard both, and seen both in different siddurim. Any insight?
7
votes
1answer
374 views
What's wrong with using “Adoshem” for the name of G-d when singing?
If seen it written that many chazzanim use "Adoshem" when singing (if not in the davening) as it has the same number of syllables as what they would be saying, namely Ado-noi, but that this is ...
0
votes
2answers
235 views
Hashem is here, Hashem is there…REALLY?
The song "Hashem is here, Hashem is there..." seems to pose many interesting theological problems. What concerns would you have with this song? How would you educate your child on the challenges this ...
0
votes
1answer
134 views
Halachic Problems with “Hatikvah”
Is there any halachic problem with singing or playing the song "haTikvah," considering that it was written by a secular Zionist and is the national anthem of the State of Israel?
3
votes
5answers
319 views
4
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1answer
324 views
Mizmor l'David (Psalms 23) at Shalosh Suedos
There is a common minhag (custom) to sing Mizmor l'David at Seudah Shlishis, the third Sabbath meal. It is common to sing this song three times in a row and I was asked this Shabbos by a friend why ...
6
votes
6answers
223 views
4
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2answers
104 views
Are you supposed to do the responsive parts of Hallel at the Seder?
At a Pesach Seder, when you get to the parts of Hallel that are done responsively in a congregation, are you supposed to do them responsively? Does the answer depend on how many people are at the ...
3
votes
3answers
306 views
What is “chad gadya” really all about?
Why do we sing "chad gadya" at the pesach seder? What is it supposed to be about?
Also, as a side question, is it "d'zabin aba" or "dizvan aba"?
7
votes
7answers
616 views
Why do we honor Charvona, specifically?
The song we sing after reading the Megilla on Purim, "Shoshanat Yaakov," concludes with "and may Charvona also be remembered favorably." According to the Megilla (Esther 7:9), all Charvona did was, ...
12
votes
4answers
530 views
Why do people frequently change tunes toward the end of Lecha Dodi?
Frequently, perhaps even most of the time, I've noticed that the chazan (prayer leader) for Kabalat Shabbat switches tunes for the last four verses of Lecha Dodi. Is there any reason for this, or are ...
