[Avodah] Lecha Dodi

[Cantor Wolberg]

Can anyone supply any information as to how Lecha Dodi became almost  
universally adopted a part of the Friday night davening?  Surely there  
must have been opposition to this "new innovation" at the time when it  
was introduced.

It was sanctioned by the Ari and recommended by R' Isaiah Horowitz for  
its inclusion into the service, and it was then accepted by all Jewish  
communities throughout the world. Its text (a mosaic of biblical and  
rabbinic phrases) was inspired by the talmudic accounts that describe  
how scholars honored and welcomed the Shabbos. They would say:
"Come, let us go out to welcome the Sabbath Queen" or "Come, O bride;  
come, O bride." Shabbos 119a

Facing toward the entrance also has its origin in Shlomo Hamelech's  
innovation of making two gates in the Temple, one for bridegrooms and  
the other for aveilim. The purpose was to alert the people with whom  
to rejoice or whom to comfort. After the churban, the sages  
transferred this minhag into the synagogue. (Siddur Ha-Gra, Isay  
Yisrael, quoting Siddur Rashban (Jerusalem, 1974), pg. 219.  Also,  
when turning to the entrance of the shul it is suggested that one turn  
counterclockwise. That is, one should turn to Maariv via tzafon and  
return from the west to Mizrach via Darom. Siddur Sha'ar Yisakhar  
(Brooklyn 1982), pg.103. (It would probably take me a year to memorize  
all the intricate directions).

Excerpted from "The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer" by Macy Nulman (One  
of the sweetest individuals I have ever known).
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