<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">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. <div><br></div><div>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:</div><div>"Come, let us go out to welcome the Sabbath Queen" or "Come, O bride; come, O bride." Shabbos 119a</div><div><br></div><div>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 <i>Maariv </i>via <i>tzafon</i> and return from the west to <i>Mizrach </i>via <i>Darom</i>. Siddur Sha'ar Yisakhar (Brooklyn 1982), pg.103. (It would probably take me a year to memorize all the intricate directions).</div><div><br></div><div>Excerpted from "The Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer" by Macy Nulman (One of the sweetest individuals I have ever known).</div></body></html>