Welcoming Shabbat with a Dance Version of Eishet Chayil

Eishet Chayil (A Woman of Valor) is a hymn which is sung Friday night in many homes after singing Shalom Aleichem and before saying the Kiddush. Traditionally, a husband sings the song to his wife, extolling her virtues, and expressing thanks for all that his wife has done for him and their family.

Eishet Chayil is a twenty-two verse poem with which King Solomon concludes the book of Proverbs (Proverbs 31). The poem has an acrostic arrangement in which the verses begin with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet in regular order. The poem describes the woman of valor as one who are is energetic, righteous, and capable.

The hymn has also become popular as an Israeli dance and is part of the dance repertory of Israeli dance groups around the world. In this video Ira Weisburd, a choreographer of Israeli dance who teaches classes on Monday nights at Kings Point in Delray Beach, Florida, leads his group in a version of Eishet Chayil.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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