Beloved of My Soul: Kabbalistic Poems of Love & Divinity

This three-part series explores the luminous poetry of Kabbalah, where love, longing, and the search for the Divine intertwine. Each session focuses on one timeless poem, uncovering its layers of mystical symbolism, spiritual yearning, and poetic beauty.
Exploring the poems in translation and the original, we will reflect on how themes of intimacy, devotion, and divine union resonate in Judaism and in our own spiritual lives.
Each class stands on its own, offering a rich encounter with one masterpiece of Jewish mystical poetry. Come for a single session or for the full journey—either way, you will leave with a deeper appreciation of how Kabbalah speaks of the soul’s deepest desire: to unite with the Beloved. No previous experience required.

Session 1: Yedid Nefesh (Beloved of the Soul)
A beautiful love song and the opening prayer of Kabbalat Shabbat. But a love song between whom? Written in the 16th century and attributed to Elazar Azikri, this poem uses the language of passionate yearning to set the tone for a Shabbat of intimacy and delight.

Session 2: Atkinu S’ud’ta (The Feast of Perfect Faith)
The reimagining of the Shabbat table as wedding feast and marital bed. Are we the party planners, guests of honor, or something else? Composed by Isaac Luria, this short liturgical poem invites us into the mystical vision of the Ari, in which the Friday night meal becomes an enactment of divine union and cosmic repair.

Session 3: Ana B’Choach (Please! With Your Strength…)
A poem, a prayer, and a magical incantation. A mysterious song of many layers. This acrostic prayer, attributed to the early Kabbalists, has been recited for centuries as part of Shabbat and daily liturgy, carrying with it associations of divine names, cosmic protection, and the hidden powers of sacred language.
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Geo Poor is a doctoral student at the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, where he is focusing on Kabbalah. He is the Director of Operations and Finance at the Vilna Shul in Boston. In his spare time, he creates daily(ish) memes about Talmud and Kabbalah (IG: jewishyomemes), bakes babka/challah of wacky and delicious flavors, and plays archery dodgeball.