<div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Jun 2, 2008 at 2:45 PM, Silverman, Philip B <<a href="mailto:Philip.Silverman@bcbsga.com">Philip.Silverman@bcbsga.com</a>> wrote:<br>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I've always noticed the very animated mood of the psalms of Kabbalat Shabbat. I always hope the one leading the singing will choose a melody that is similarly upbeat.</span></font></p>
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<div>Why does kabbalat shabbat need to be upbeat and happy? I agree that it should be emotional, but am unsure if the Carlebach happy-clappy mood fits kabbalat shabbat. When people don't understand the words of what they're singing, it just becomes, "I feel spiritual," rather than "I am welcoming in the shabbat with the specific meanings of the words I'm reciting." I personally enjoy the old-style tunes for kabbalat shabbat and lecha dodi much more than the new(ly popular) Carlebach stuff.</div>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span id=""></span>But I have a question about the first psalm (Psalm 95). It starts of with a resounding "Come! Let us rejoice!" but ends on "and I swore in My wrath that they shall not enter the land of contentment."</span></font></p>
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<div>Did you look at the middle of the psalm? If you haven't yet, simply read through the English translation and see the flow from beginning to middle to end of the psalm.</div>
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<div>Basically, here's how I understand the flow: Let us sing to G-d, let us thank Him, because He is great, because He is our G-d, as long as we follow his ways; don't be like your ancestors who didn't follow his ways, and got G-d angry at them.</div>
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<div>This flows, and if people paid attention to the entire perek, it would make sense. The problem is that people sing Lechu Neranenahhhhhhhhhh........, skim read until the end without understanding anything, and sing "Arba'im shanahhhhhh............" As soon as people pay attention to the words they're signing, they have the problem you have. The only solution is to pay attention to the entire perek.</div>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><span id=""></span>Frankly, if I were the one putting Kabbalat Shabbat together, I'd be tempted to leave out the last few verses of that Psalm. Of course, I'm sure I could find some good reasons to include it. Do you know of any commentator who talks about this?</span></font></p>
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<div>To me, the question is the opposite: Given that kabbalat shabbat includes psukim that aren't necessarily so happy, why are we singing it to happy tunes?</div>
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<div>KT,</div>
<div>Michael</div></div>