"Shabbat menuḥa hi" (Sabbath is a day of rest)

Girdle song in honor of the Sabbath by Shalem Shabazi, signed Shalem ben Joseph. It is sung during the se'uda shelishit (the `third meal', a festive meal eaten on Sabbath afternoon) and in the Sabbath afternoon service during the wedding celebrations (Kafih: 115). It has an introductory section and eight stanzas, in Hebrew and Arabic. 

This recording features Aharon Cohen and the Kiryat Ono male ensemble singing a melismatic melody in flowing rhythm. The soloist begins with an opening passage. The ensemble then joins in with a response, and this type of response is repeated throughout the song. The parts are allocated in accordance with the poetic meter: the soloist sings the first two feet of the verse --~ --, and the ensemble sings the next two --~~ --(Bahat, 1995: 88-90). The pitch gradually rises in the course of the song, which is a sign of joyous emotion. The song closes with the blessing Vekulkhem berukhim, which leads into the hallel. After the hallel the following blessing is said: Hashem yihye itkhem lehayyim tovim... berukhim hanimtza'im (May God give you a good life.... blessed are those who are present).