Golan Azulai's Shabbat + A Song as a Gift
He cooks Shabbat meals himself, reenacts the weekly Torah portion with his family, and sings "Eshet Chayil" to his own tune at the Shabbat table. Enjoy a Shabbat questionnaire, and a free download of "Eshet Chayil" from Golan Azulai's new album.
- הידברות סופשבוע
- פורסם י"ח חשון התשע"ד
#VALUE!
For me, Shabbat is... a great gift from Hashem. A time when I am with my family, in peace, with a sweetness that spreads throughout my body. I truly live from Shabbat to Shabbat, eagerly waiting for it all week. I also cook the meats for Shabbat, while my wife prepares the side dishes.
My Shabbat schedule... First of all, I try to do the shopping on Friday morning, so the light of Shabbat shines on the food items, as per the teachings of the Ben Ish Chai and the Ari. I cook, arrange the candles for my wife to light, take a shower, put on a white shirt, and go to the synagogue with the kids. After coming back, we sing "Eshet Chayil" to my tune, as on the album, and sometimes dance around or next to the table. Then, we make Kiddush, bless, I share words of Torah, and sometimes we reenact the weekly Torah portion as a play, if I'm not too tired. Then, I read a bit of Musar, some Likutey Moharan, and the weekly Torah portion. The next morning, I go to the synagogue, return home to eat, talk, play with the kids, take a walk, and then take a nap. I get up for Mincha, Maariv, and Shabbat ends. I usually write songs after Shabbat, as I am filled with energy, desire, and longing to play. Most of my songs were written on Saturday night.
My synagogue...changes. I fluctuate between Ashkenazi and Sephardi congregations. The Ashkenazi one is right next to my house, and the Sephardi one is further away. So, I attend the Sephardi when time permits. We also have a Chabad synagogue that opened recently, and I am involved in its establishment, so I pray there too.
My reading material... is the laws of the Ben Ish Chai, teachings of Rabbi Nachman, Likutey Moharan, and stories. I also read the weekly portion with Rashi's commentary, and the weekly Torah portion book by Chaim Sabato. Additionally, there's "Maayana Shel Torah" - a volume full of insights and pearls on the weekly Torah portion. I also read Shabbat laws in Yalkut Yosef, read Shabbat pamphlets, and sometimes the "Talk of the Rebbe" from the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
With the extended family... Shabbat at my parents' in Arad is sweet. There's a sweet community there. As soon as I arrive, I feel everything melts away. It feels like traveling back in time. My mom makes the salads I particularly love, and in general, it's fun to be there.
When Shabbat ends, the first thing I do is... Havdalah (laughs). We make toasts for the fourth meal, and I immediately open the computer, checking what lies ahead at work for the next week. We put the kids to bed, and then I play music.
