Welcoming Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem by Central Reform Congregation of St. Louis, Missouri

Central Reform Congregation is a vibrant urban Jewish community dedicated to supporting one another in holy ways, pursuing justice and lifelong learning, and providing a shelter of peace. It is based in St. Louis, Missouri with a thriving online community across the globe.

In this video, the congregants of Central Reform Congregation sing Shalom Aleichem to welcome Shabbat at one of their Friday night services.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Welcoming Shabbat with Ana Bekoach by the Central Reform Congregation

Tonight we welcome Shabbat with Ana Bekoach, a liturgical poem from the Kabbalat Shabbat service that appears in the siddur just before Lecha Dodi. It's a Kabbalistic prayer composed by Rav Nehunia Ben Hakannah. It is also sung at weddings.

Known as the 42-letter Name of God, Ana Bekoach is a unique formula built of 42 letters written in seven sentences of six words each. Each of the seven sentences correspond to the seven days of the week, seven specific angels, and to a particular heavenly body. The letters that make up Ana Bekoach are encoded within the first 42 letters of the book of Genesis.

The kabbalists explain that this combination of letters takes us back to the time of Creation, and each time we meditate on a particular sequence, we return to the original uncorrupted energy that built the world. By performing the Ana Bekoach meditation, we enrich our lives with unadulterated spiritual Light and positive energy.

This version of Ana Bekoach is sung by the Central Reform Congregation based in St. Louis, Missouri with a thriving online community across the globe.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Welcoming Shabbat with St. Louis Congregation Singing Adon Olam to "Gloria"

Any casual hockey fan knows that Laura Branigan's song Gloria has become the soundtrack of the St. Louis Blues, who adopted the song as their victory anthem back when the team was trying to climb back into the NHL playoff race shortly after the new year.

Last month Congregation B'nai Amoona clergy and members became the latest St. Louisans to offer a take on the song, which became the Blues' victory anthem en route to winning the Stanley Cup. What made the Conservative congregation's version different? They sang Adon Olam to the tune of Gloria during Shabbat morning services on June 15.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom! 


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