#70: Eishet Chayil
- In the previous post, we learned that it is customary to recite “Shalom Aleichem” before reciting the Friday night Kiddush. Following “Shalom Aleichem,” some recite the paragraph of “Ribon Ha’olamim.” Others refrain from reciting it due to concern with making requests to Hashem on Shabbat.
- It is customary to recite “Eishet Chayil” (taken from Mishlei, ch.31) following “Shalom Aleichem” (Siddur of Rav Yaakov Emden and Siddur of the Shlah), which describes the actions of a Jewish “woman of valor.” One explanation given is that this refers to the wife of the household, who has prepared the food and the home for Shabbat. Others explain that mystically, it refers to the Shechinah (Divine presence), which joins a person on Shabbat (Zohar). A third explanation, also mystical in nature, is that it refers to the Shabbat queen (see Sefer Shivat Tzion).
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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.