לְכָה דוֹדִי
COME, my beloved, with chorusing praise,
Welcome the Sabbath Bride, Queen of the days.
Sabbath, to welcome thee, joyous we haste;
Fountain of blessing from ever thou wast,
First in God’s planning, though fashioned the last—
Crown of His handiwork, chiefest of days.
City of holiness, filled are the years;
Up from thine overthrow! Forth from thy fears!
Long hast thou dwelt in the valley of tears,
Now shall God’s tenderness shepherd thy ways.
Wake and bestir thee, for come is thy light!
Up! With thy shining the world shall be bright.
Sing! For thy Lord is revealed in His might—
Thine is the splendour His glory displays!
SOLOMON HALEVI ALKABETZ, 16th cent.
(Trans. S. Solis-Cohen.)
FAR more than Israel has kept the Sabbath, it is the Sabbath that has kept Israel.
ACHAD HA’AM, 1898.