Lying through song at the Shabbos table

Hi,

Some are concerned regarding singing Shabbat songs when the words don't apply, out of concern for uttering falsehood. For example, they suggest not to sing Tzur miShelo, which says "we have imbibed His wine", if one has not personally imbibed wine.

Others disagree with this concern, contending that despite the first-person language, it is meant to refer to what people do in general. Nonetheless, it would be good to sing the song at the end of the meal rather than the middle, to satisfy the language of "we have been sated, and we have left some over".

[Rivivot Ephraim does not address another popular Tzur miShelo question: whether singing this song, which is designed to summarize Birkat haMazon, might qualify as an act of Birkat haMazon in itself.]

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:223:10)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Singing on Shabbat Chazon

Hi,

One may sing Shabbat zmirot [songs] on Shabbat Chazon [the Shabbat preceding Tishah b'Av]; it is for the honor of Shabbat, and so it is appropriate even for one who does not normally sing Shabbat zmirot.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:112:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai