Welcoming Shabbat with Yedid Nefesh in Tzfat, Israel

Yedid Nefesh is a piyyut (poem) usually sung on Friday night just before the Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) service begins.
According to Wikipedia, this beautiful poem is commonly attributed to the sixteenth century kabbalist, Rabbi Elazar ben Moshe Azikri (1533-1600), who first published it in Sefer Charedim (published in Venice 1601), but Azikri did not claim authorship of it and there have been other suggested authors (e.g. Judah Halevi, or Israel Nagara).  

The first letters of each of the four verses make up the four letter name of God, known in English as the tetragrammaton.

This beautiful rendition by singers Rick Recht and Happie Hoffman was recorded in Israel, in the mystical city of Tzfat. Rick Recht is a celebrated Jewish artist, playing family concerts, Shabbat Alive! services, religious school concerts, teen concerts, camp concerts, and tot concerts throughout the United States and abroad. He is widely recognized as a pioneer of the Jewish rock music genre. In addition to his role as an artist, Recht is regarded as a top Jewish educator and leader in the Jewish world.

Happie Hoffman is a song leader at Jewish Camps and gatherings throughout the U.S. and abroad, performing and leading services at temples and synagogues. Happie’s range of music and spirituality flows from the depths of her conviction. She is passionate about her faith and her music, which when intertwined, offer an experience that is truly memorable.

The song is introduced by Micah Greenstein, Senior Rabbi of Temple Israel in Memphis, Tennessee.

Enjoy and Shabbat shalom!

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