Learn to Daven Lecha Dodi לְכָה דוֹדִי
About this piece
Lecha Dodi is sung every Friday night as part of Kabbalat Shabbat, going out to greet the Shabbat as a bride. It was composed in Tzfat by Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz, who signed his name into it: the opening letters of the first eight stanzas spell שלמה הלוי. The refrain is sung again after every stanza, and for the closing stanza the kehillah turns to face the entrance to welcome the Shabbat.
Tune Selector
Lecha dodi likrat kallah, p'nei Shabbat n'kabb'lah.
Shamor v'zachor b'dibbur echad, hishmi'anu Kel ham'yuchad.
Hashem echad ush'mo echad, l'shem ul'tif'eret v'lit'hillah.
Lecha dodi likrat kallah, p'nei Shabbat n'kabb'lah.
Likrat Shabbat lechu v'nelchah, ki hi m'kor hab'rachah.
Merosh mikedem n'suchah, sof ma'aseh b'machashavah t'chillah.
Lecha dodi likrat kallah, p'nei Shabbat n'kabb'lah.
Mikdash melech ir m'luchah, kumi tz'i mitoch hahafechah.
Rav lach shevet b'emek habacha, v'hu yachamol alayich chemlah.
Lecha dodi likrat kallah, p'nei Shabbat n'kabb'lah.
Hitna'ari me'afar kumi, livshi bigdei tif'artech ami.
Al yad ben Yishai beit halachmi, korvah el nafshi g'alah.
Lecha dodi likrat kallah, p'nei Shabbat n'kabb'lah.
Hit'or'ri hit'or'ri, ki va orech kumi ori.
Uri uri shir dabeiri, k'vod Hashem alayich niglah.
Lecha dodi likrat kallah, p'nei Shabbat n'kabb'lah.
Lo tevoshi v'lo tikal'mi, mah tishtochachi umah tehemi.
Bach yechesu aniyei ami, v'nivn'tah ir al tillah.
Lecha dodi likrat kallah, p'nei Shabbat n'kabb'lah.
V'hayu limshisah shosayich, v'rachaku kol m'val'ayich.
Yasis alayich Elokayich, kimsos chatan al kallah.
Lecha dodi likrat kallah, p'nei Shabbat n'kabb'lah.
Yamin usmol tifrotzi, v'et Hashem ta'aritzi.
Al yad ish ben Partzi, v'nism'chah v'nagilah.
Lecha dodi likrat kallah, p'nei Shabbat n'kabb'lah.
Bo'i v'shalom ateret ba'lah, gam b'simchah uvtzoholah.
Toch emunei am s'gullah, bo'i challah, bo'i challah.
Lecha dodi likrat kallah, p'nei Shabbat n'kabb'lah.