Yom Zeh Le-Yisrael

This classic zemer, whose first four stanzas were written by Isaac Chandali in 15th- century Crimea, was later expanded and attributed to the famous Safed mystic Isaac Luria. This rendition includes the full expansion. The poem celebrates Shabbat as a day of “light and joy.” It hints in several places at a life of travail and worry, from which Shabbat serves as a respite. The text, an English translation, transliteration, and links to additional melodies can be found here.