Baruch Levine: Lecho Dodi

It’s leil Shabbos Kodesh, he wanders on in –
Stands in the back as the tefillos begin.
The mystical words of Lecha Dodi –
There’s something about that sweet melody.

Invited for dinner, zemiros they sing,
Infusing his soul with the joy that they bring.
Closing his eyes, his heart starts to soar –
Perhaps we can sing that sweet song once more?

LECHO DODI LIKRAS KALLAH
P’NEI SHABBOS N’KABLA

They asked him, “Who are you?”
And “Where were you born?”
“Ramalla’s my home but inside I feel torn –
I was taught to hate Jews, to hurt and to maim,
But I felt a connection I could not explain.

“With anger and fury, thrown out of my home –
Confused and forsaken, I left there alone.
But I feel something strange here,” His voice fills the room.
And over and over he’s singing this tune.

LECHO DODI LIKRAS KALLAH
P’NEI SHABBOS N’KABLA

Returned to my mother to say my goodbyes,
She told me the truth with tears in her eyes –
“I was taken by force. We’re Jewish – Now run!
Here’s a picture to treasure; It’s where you come from.”

They gathered and stared at the photo he held
An image of his grandfather’s grave it beheld.
R’ Shlomo Alkabetz, his kever in Tzfas –
Who wrote Lecho Dodi, we sing leil Shabbos.

---

I will spend this Erev Shabbat with Kehilat Har-El (https://www.kharel.org.il/).