Judaism has a rich musical history – particularly when it comes to prayers that are recited and sung together with a congregation. Piyutim, Jewish liturgical poems, have been composed across the Jewish diaspora, and these activities will focus on those that were composed in Spain and the Middle East. These religious poems were sung during Shabbat, weddings and holidays and were used to inspire Jewish communities with a love of Torah, hope for a time of redemption, and to instill faith in G-d.

This activity will ask the students to listen to a recording of Lecha Dodi and discuss the impact of this music and how the tunes help to provide a context for the words and meaning of the prayer.

Lecha Dodi – a prayer sung as part of Friday night Shabbat services.