לכה דודי לקראת כלה פני שבת נקבלה – Lecha Dodi likras kallah pnei Shabbos nikablah. Come, my Beloved to greet the bride, the face of Shabbos, let us welcome.
Shabbos is often described as both a Divine gift and the ben zug, soulmate, of the Jewish People. Chazal (Shemos Rabbah 25:12) teach that, when Hashem created the world, every day of the week was paired with a counterpart: Sunday with Monday; Tuesday with Wednesday, and Thursday with Friday. Being the odd number with no partner, Shabbos asked Hashem, “Who will be my ben zug?” Hashem replied, “Shabbos Kodesh will be your soulmate.” This reflects the unique relationship Shabbos has with Am Yisrael. It is more than a day of rest. It is a day of spiritual union, a day on which we reconnect with our essence and our Creator.
