Welcoming Shabbat with Eishet Chayil by The Shvesters

The Shvesters (Chava Levi and Polina Fradkin) are a Yiddish vocal duo hailing originally from Detroit, Michigan. They gained a reputation on social media for their perfectly synchronized voices (and signature matching outfits) — and have won the hearts of audiences from all backgrounds. The Shvesters transform classic Yiddish melodies into sophisticated, contemporary harmonic jazz arrangements.

The Shvesters, accompanied by Omri Bar Giora on guitar, performed "Eishet Chayil" at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park, NYC, on August 22, 2024. 

"Eishet Chayil" is a cherished Jewish hymn traditionally sung on Friday nights to honor and celebrate a wife or woman of valor. Based on verses from the Book of Proverbs, this heartfelt song is a central part of the Shabbat dinner, highlighting the virtues and contributions of women in Jewish life.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Welcoming Shabbat with Eshet Chayil Sung by IDF Chief Cantor Shai Abramson to Soldiers' Wives

Eishet Chayil (A Woman of Valor) is a hymn which is sung Friday night in many homes after singing Shalom Aleichem and before saying the Kiddush.

 Traditionally, a husband sings the song to his wife, extolling her virtues, and expressing thanks for all that his wife has done for him and their family.

With so many reservists away from home and on the battlefield, IDF Chief Cantor Shai Abramson led a group of soldiers performing a musical rendition of Eishet Chayil to their wives.

Shabbat shalom!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Welcoming Shabbat with Eishet Chayil Sung by Israeli Soldiers on the Battlefield to Their Wives at Home

Eishet Chayil is a traditional Shabbat prayer that praises the wife, and it is recited during the Kiddush ceremony. 

Last Friday a group of Israeli soldiers preparing for battle took the time to sing this song of praise to their wives as they got ready for Shabbat in the field.

May this prayer give them strength, and may our soldiers return home safely very soon.

Shabbat Shalom.

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Welcoming Shabbat with Eishet Chayil by the Hibba Center of Jerusalem

Hibbat HaPiyut (The Love of the Piyyut) project is a huge database of piyyutim (liturgical poems) from the cycle of the year and the life cycle of a person.

The project is shared by the Hibba Center and the Shazar Center of Jerusalem with the assistance of the Ministry of Culture.

In the project you can find clips of young musicians from different ensembles produced by the Hibba Center, in piyyutim clips sung on holidays and celebrations.

Today's video is a performance of Eishet Chayil (A Woman of Valor), a hymn which is not sung in the synagogue, but in many homes after singing Shalom Aleichem and before saying the Kiddush. Traditionally, a husband sings the song to his wife, extolling her virtues, and expressing thanks for all that his wife has done for him and their family. 

An English translation appears below.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO. 



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A woman of valor, who can find? Far beyond pearls is her value. Her husband's heart trusts in her and he shall lack no fortune.

She repays his good, but never his harm, all the days of her life. She seeks out wool and linen, and her hands work willingly.

She is like a merchant's ships; from afar she brings her sustenance She rises while it is still nighttime, and gives food to her household and a ration to her maids.

She considers a field and buys it; from the fruit of her handiwork she plants a vineyard. She girds her loins with might and strengthens her arms.

False is grace, and vain is beauty; a G‑d-fearing woman, she should be praised.

Give her the fruit of her hands, and she will be praised at the gates by her very own deeds.

Welcoming Shabbat with a Dance Version of Eishet Chayil

Eishet Chayil (A Woman of Valor) is a hymn which is sung Friday night in many homes after singing Shalom Aleichem and before saying the Kiddush. Traditionally, a husband sings the song to his wife, extolling her virtues, and expressing thanks for all that his wife has done for him and their family.

Eishet Chayil is a twenty-two verse poem with which King Solomon concludes the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 31). The poem has an acrostic arrangement in which the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in regular order. The poem describes the woman of valor as one who are is energetic, righteous, and capable.

The hymn has also become popular as an Israeli dance and is part of the dance repertory of Israeli dance groups around the world. In this video Ira Weisburd, a choreographer of Israeli dance who teaches classes on Monday nights at Kings Point in Delray Beach, Florida, leads his group in a version of Eishet Chayil.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Eishet Chayil - A New Version of the Shabbat Hymn Set to John Lennon's "Imagine"

Eishet Chayil (A Woman of Valor) is a hymn which is sung Friday night in many homes after singing Shalom Aleichem and before saying the Kiddush. Traditionally, a husband sings the song to his wife, extolling her virtues, and expressing thanks for all that his wife has done for him and their family.

Eishet Chayil is a twenty-two verse poem with which King Solomon concludes the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 31). The poem has an acrostic arrangement in which the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in regular order. The poem describes the woman of valor as one who are is energetic, righteous, and capable.

This is a new version of the song by Harp & Love – a musical group from Israel that specializes in wedding music. It's set to the music of the Beatles' John Lennon. It includes only five of the twenty-two verses.The transliterated Hebrew text and English translation appear below the video.

Enjoy and Shabbat Shalom! 

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)  




Eshet chayil mi yimtza v'rachok mip'ninim michrah
An accomplished woman, who can find? Her value is far beyond pearls.

Batach bah lev ba'lah v'shalal lo yechsar
Her husband's heart relies on her and he shall lack no fortune.  

Rabot banot asu chayil v'at alit al kulanah
Many women have done worthily, but you surpass them all.

Sheker hachen v'hevel hayofi ishah yir'at Hashem hi tit'halal
Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears God shall be praised.

T'nu lah mip'ri yadeiha vihal'luha vash'arim ma'aseha
Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. 

Israeli Talent Comes Together for "Eishet Chayil" Set to "You Raise Me Up"

When talented singers and musicians collaborate to produce a special rendition of a traditional Shabbat eve song, and set it to the melody of a popular English-Irish ballad, the result can be beautiful.

That's what happened when Israeli singer Ohad Moskowitz got together with The Kinderlach, a group of seven pre-teen boys from all over Israel, and Daniel Ahaviel, a British klezmer violinist who made aliyah to Israel in 1988, and sang the song Eishet Chayil at a wedding.

Eishet Chayil is usually sung at home on Friday night before the Shabbat meal is served. Traditionally, a husband sings the song to his wife, extolling her virtues, and expressing thanks for all that his wife has done for him and their family.

The version in this video bypasses the traditional melody, and instead is set to the melody of You Raise Me Up, which has an interesting history.

It was composed originally as an instrumental piece by Rolf Lovland, with parts of the melody based on Londonderry Air, an Irish tune later put to lyrics in 1910 to create the song Danny Boy, now considered an Irish classic. Lovland approached the Irish songwriter Brendan Graham to add lyrics and You Raise Me Up was the result.

It became a huge success in a version produced by David Foster and sung by Josh Groban, reaching the top of the Billboard charts in 2004. It has since been covered more than 125 times, with our favorite version the finale of the Celtic Woman concert at Slane Castle, Ireland in 2006. We've included that version at the end of this blog post. 

Enjoy and Shabbat Shalom!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)