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Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz
was a prolific writer. In his times, his works were popular and
earned him much respect and admiration, although most of them
are not widely known today. Several of his works remain in
manuscript; others have been lost. Several of his works are
commentaries on Tanach and the Liturgy. There are also
discourses on topics in
Kabbala.
Among his printed works:
- Lecha Dodi, a
mystical hymn sung at the inauguration of the Shabbat. It was
composed according to kabbalistic teachings regarding the
ascent of the sefira of malchut (which
represents both the
Shechina and the Jewish
soul) on the Shabbat, and it therefore expresses the yearning
of the Shechina and the Jewish soul for the Redemption.
It was probably composed in Safed and was printed
shortly after its appearance in the Sefardi version of the
prayer-book (Venice 5344 / 1584 CE). The hymn became so popular
that it was incorporated into the Shabbat liturgy of every
community. It is for this work that Rabbi Shlomo is particularly
renowned. The author signed his name - "Shlomo HaLevi" - in the
acrostic formed by the first letter of the first eight stanzas
of the hymn. |
