Silent Shabbat?

Friday night's service was no fun - Kabbalat Shabbat is supposed to be uplifting and moving but, alas, it was not. The rabbi is on vacation for two weeks so those leading the service, I suppose, felt like doing something different.

Two of my favorite parts of the Kabbalat Shabbat (Welcoming Shabbat) service on Friday night are the tried and true songs of Psalm 29 (link goes directly to MP3 music file) and Psalm 96 (so does this one but have a listen!) - they're both moving when everyone joins in and sings. It's quite an experience. The person leading Friday's service simply spoke sections of these Psalms and left out the singing. I was disappointed.