This piyyut, a contemplative poem attributed to Rabbi Aaron of Karlin, is often practiced during Seudah Shlishit, ‘the third meal,’ the afternoon proceeding the exit of Shabbat, the day of rest. The poem expresses the yearning that is associated with this hour before twilight, and the seeker’s yearning to hold on to unity, oneness, all that is good, the recognition of reality’s impermanence, and the pleasure in awareness in the liminal state of self between absorption and separation.

Ekhsof, Hebrew for “I shall yearn,” is one of nearly twenty words in the Hebrew language that describe different nuanced degrees of yearning, wanting, seeking, cravings, spanning the bodily, the intelectual, the sensual, and the spiritual.

The recording above was made during Aleph Ordination Program Training Week on 27 Tamuz 5783 in West Chester, PA. The picture above is of the moon over the hills of Northern Galilee, Israel.

Hebrew:

יָהּ אֶכְסֹף נֹעַם שַׁבָּת 

הַמַּתְאֶמֶת וּמִתְאַחֶדֶת בִּסְגֻלָּתֶךָ

הַשַּׁבָּת נֹעַם הַנְּשָׁמוֹת וְעֹנֶג הָרוּחוֹת 

נַפְשׁוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל יחסון בְּצֵל כְּנָפֶיךָ

English Transliteration:

Yah Ekhsof No’am shabbat x2

Ha’mat’emet u’mit’achedet b’s’gulatecha

Hashabat noam han’shamot v’oneg haruchot

Nafshot Isr-ra-el ya-khe-soon b’tzel k’nafeicha

English Translation:

To Yah-Inifnite-Mystery I shall yearn, the comfort of Shabbat

Self-affirming and unifying in its singular supernal qualities 

Shabbat, the comfort of all souls and the pleasure of all that breaths.

The spirits of all seekers find shelter in the shade of your wings.