Shir Hashirim: Friday Yom Tov/Erev Yom Tov

Do you say shir hashirim on Friday afternoon when yom kippur is Friday night?

Shalom!

Thank you for your question.

Indeed, there is a custom, primarily among Sephardim, to recite Shir Hashirim every Friday afternoon before Shabbat.

The reason for this is that Shir Hashirim is essentially a parable of love between two people, which can also be interpreted as the love between G-d and the Jewish people. This is very timely and relevant before Shabbat when the Jewish people come closer to G-d on Shabbat.

The Zohar teaches that evil people are given rest from punishment in Gehenom during the 24 hours of Shabbat as well as for the time we spend each day for the daily prayers. The result of the Zohar’s calculation is that there are a total of 117 hours per week in which the souls of the deceased suffer in Gehenom during the first year of their passing. It is said that the 117 verses of the Shir Hashirim, when read every Friday, serve to alleviate these 117 hours of suffering in Gehenom each week. It is also taught that one who does so will himself be saved from the suffering in Gehenom when the time comes.

Based on the above, it seems that there would be no difference if Friday was a Yom Tov or an Erev Yom Tov, as the “benefits” would still apply. However, since souls are also given rest from punishment on Yom Tov, one could suggest that Shir Hashirim need not be said on a Friday which is Yom Tov, since there were not 117 hours of judgment time during that week. Le'haloche people who recite it every week also recite it on a Friday which is Yom Tov.

Same too Le'haloche when Friday is Erev Yom Tov, there is no reason not to follow the custom and, indeed, all those who say Shir Hashirim on every Friday during the year do so on Friday Erev Yom Tov and Erev Yom Kippur as well, It is interesting to note, however, that the Machzor "Imri Pi" and "Tefilat Yesharim" seem to omit Shir Hashirim on a Friday Erev Yom Tov.

Otzar Dinim Uminhagim p.414