(Hebrew: בְּנֵי הֵיכָלָא), which translates to "Children of the Palace" or "Princes of the Palace," refers to a sacred Kabbalistic hymn ( piyyut ) traditionally sung during the third meal of Shabbat ( Seudah Shlishit ). Composed by the 16th-century mystic Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Arizal), it is deeply significant in Jewish mystical and Chassidic traditions for its spiritual intensity and its focus on a unique time of divine favor. 1. Mystical Significance
Rabbi Isaac Luria composed three primary songs for the three Shabbat meals. While "Azameir B'Shvachin" is for Friday night and "Asader L'Seudosah" is for Shabbat lunch, Bnei Heichala is the final and most solemn, reserved for the late afternoon. Children of the Palace (Bnei Heichala)
Unlike many joyful Shabbat songs, the melody for Bnei Heichala is often sung slowly and with a sense of deep longing and yearning. The hymn is famously associated with a haunting,
The hymn is famously associated with a haunting, meditative melody ( niggun ) that is one of the "Ten Niggunim" attributed to the (Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Chabad Chassidism). (Hebrew: בְּנֵי הֵיכָלָא)
The lyrics describe a sacred space where "harsh judgments" are removed and negative spiritual forces (metaphorically called "insolent dogs") are cast out.