#130: Singing Zemirot on Shabbat

1. Many families customarily sing zemirot at the Shabbat meals (Mishnah Berurah 289:5, citing Roke’ach). Although singing zemirot is not obligatory, it is certainly appropriate to praise Hashem in this context to demonstrate that our eating and drinking on Shabbat is not merely for our own physical pleasure, but for a higher, more spiritual purpose.
2. Some, especially Sephardim, have the practice of reciting Hashem’s Name within the zemirot, which is permitted when praising Him and not repeating Hashem’s Name multiple times (Piskei Teshuvot 215:18; Ohr L’tzion 2:14:35). Others refrain from reciting Hashem’s Name within the zemirot due to concern that one may be interrupted in the middle or that Hashem’s Name will be repeated inappropriately (Kaf Hachaim 215:24; R. Hershel Schachter in Nefesh Harav, p.160, from R. Yosef Dov Soloveitchik).

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.