On Friday night, Erev Shabbat, there is a preliminary service called Kabbalat Shabbat, Welcoming the Sabbath,that was instituted by kabbalist (Jewish Mystic) Rabbi Moses Cordovero of Safed (1522-1570).

The beginning of the Kabbalat Shabbat service is comprised of the Six Psalms of Creation (95, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 29). Shabbat is represented by the poem, Lecha Dodi, that was written by Cordovero’s brother-in-law, Solomon ben Moses HaLevi Alkabetz.

Following are some of the songs we sing at the Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv services:

All Boxes/Squares chanting– P.15 on