כמה טוב שבאת [Kama Tov Shebat] [English translation]

A prepared table

Sabbath candles

And I don't have an explanation but

Again, it's good for me now

Stop running

Breathe a little

And how good that you've come

How good that you've come

Sabbath, my queen

I am grateful

You're like a new song

Like a little sanctuary1

My queen, The Sabbath

Double bliss2

One utterance3

You also remember

Also watch over me4

You're insanity

A city of refuge5

And how good that you've come

How good that you've come

Sabbath, my queen

I am grateful

You're like a new song

Like a little sanctuary

Ooo my queen, The Sabbath

Sabbath, my queen

I am grateful

You're like a new song

Like a little sanctuary

Ooo my queen, The Sabbath

An overturned table

1. The term "little sanctuary" is often used in rabbinic literature to refer to prayer and study houses in the exile. See Talmud Megillah 29a (https://www.sefaria.org/Megillah.29a.7)2. Possibly a reference to the rabbinic idea that God provides an extra soul on the Sabbath. See Gemara Beitzah 16a (https://www.sefaria.org/Beitzah.16a.11-12)3. The Sabbath is described in the Bible using both the term שמור (watch) and זכור (remember). The Gemara Shevuot 20b explains that both these words were said in one utterance (https://www.sefaria.org/Shevuot.20b.9)4. Jewish philsopher and poet Ahad Ha'am once said "More than Jews have kept Shabbat, Shabbat has kept the Jews"5. The Bible instructs the Israelites to build cities of refuge to protect those who kill accidently from revenge (https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.35.6)

• Artist:Ishay Ribo