Dancing in the Glory

A Journey into Kabbalat Shabbat

Dancing in Glory is a collection of chants that follow the magical flow of Kabbalat Shabbat, the 16^th century kabalistic ritual for welcoming the Sabbath, built as a dance between the community and the Divine. In Nava Tehila we interpret this traditional prayer service as a spiritual journey that can evoke new experiences every week while following the traditional prayer structure.

Kabbalat Shabbat opens with the recitation of six psalms (95-99 and 29), symbolizing the six days of creation (and according to the kabbala the six sfirot from Chesed to yesod corresponding to the persona of the Holy One Blessed be He). The hymn Lecha Dodi welcomes the entering Sabbath bride, the Shechina, the sfira of malchut. This is the climax of the journey,, which concludes with the seventh Psalm, a Song for the Sabbath Day (92), and psalm 93 that always follows it.

In Nava Tehila we choose a spiritual topic for each Kabbalat Shabbat service. Often it stems from the Torah portion of the week, sometimes it relates to a festival in the coming week or to an event in the life of the community. When we prepare we read through the Psalms and allow a certain phrase or a few verses to come into our attention. Then a niggun (tune) comes down to grace this verse that transforms it into a holy chant that is sung over and over until it sinks deep into our heart and soul. The seven (or eight) phrases from the Psalms will then present themselves to us as a process, a spiritual journey that takes us, through the use of guided kavvanot (intentions) through wonder, struggle, joy, elation, dance, tranquility and eventually peace.

We invite you to come and dance in the Glory with us and all Ohavei Adonai - Lovers of God around the world.

 Here is the list of the songs on the cd. hyperlinked to a rehaersal version - ither MP3 or Vidoes- or to blog entires

explore and have fun!!!