Shabbat Kallah (SHABAT BRIDE)
Yiddish speakers can readily understand the meaning of forshpiel, which translates literally as “pre-party.” Guests gather in the bride’s and groom’s homes on the Sabbath afternoon before their wedding to sing and celebrate with the newlywed to be couple.
The bride’s pre-party is called “Shabbat Kallah,” the Sabbath bride. The celebration links the bride to Shabbath, which has been mystically nicknamed as God’s bride. (Lecha Dodi, a prayer in welcoming the Shabbath, recited Friday night, repeats the refrain: “Lecha dodi likrat kallah penei Shabbat nekabelah,” Go, my beloved, to greet the bride, the countenance of Shabbat we will greet.)
Yiddish speakers can readily understand the meaning of forshpiel, which translates literally as “pre-party.” Guests gather in the bride’s and groom’s homes on the Sabbath afternoon before their wedding to sing and celebrate with the newlywed to be couple.
The bride’s pre-party is called “Shabbat Kallah,” the Sabbath bride. The celebration links the bride to Shabbath, which has been mystically nicknamed as God’s bride. (Lecha Dodi, a prayer in welcoming the Shabbath, recited Friday night, repeats the refrain: “Lecha dodi likrat kallah penei Shabbat nekabelah,” Go, my beloved, to greet the bride, the countenance of Shabbat we will greet.)
