Friday Night:Kabbalat Shabbat

From SiddurWiki

• ידיד נפש - Y’did Nefesh
• לכו נרננה - Lechu N’ranna
• שירו ליהוה - Shiru Ladonai
• יהוה מלך תגל הארץ - Adonai Malach Tagel Ha'aretz
• מזמור, שירו ליהוה שיר חדש - Mizmor Shiru Ladonai Shir Chadash
• יהוה מלך ירגזו עמי - Adonai Malach Yirg’zu Amim
• מזמור לדוד - Mizmor L’david
• אנא בכח - Ana Bikoach
• לכה דודי - Lecha Dodi
• מזמור שיר - Mizmor Shir
• יהוה מלך - Adonai Malach
• קדיש יתומ - Mourner's Kaddish

[edit] The Concept of the Shechinah

Kabbalat Shabbat refers in many places to the concept of שכינה "shechinah" which is translated as the female presence of God. But why should there be a male or female delineation at all? Aren't we all equal with no difference in roles depending on gender?

But there are differences of course - physiological, psychological, genetic - between men and women. If the purpose of nearly all of the prayers are to draw our attention and acknowledgment to different aspects of our lives, reminding ourselves that we are not all the same, including gender differences (though not roles and responsibilities), helps make the diversity of life that much more meaningful.

At the same time, we strongly reject the traditional interpretation that because of these differences, women are not allowed to take on the same responsibilities as men.

See also the section on divinity for more on the concept of the shechinah.