On this Shabbat Shirah, the
Sabbath of Song, the Torah reading includes the chanting of the song the
Israelites sang after crossing the sea and escaping the Egyptians who were
pursuing them. The Haftarah reading contains the song intoned by inspired
leader and judge, Deborah, celebrating a later victory. The Psalms, including “Hinei
Mah Tov” and the lyrics and music that opened our service, were likely sung
with musical accompaniment going
back to ancient times.
What is the role of music in a
community? In “One Light Above: The Larry Karol Songbook,” I explained that “music
has the potential to illuminate the ideas, emotions and lessons embodied in
Jewish texts….Favorite Jewish songs become a part of congregational culture and
a foundation for personal spirituality.”
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, a
19th Century leader of Orthodox Judaism, defined song as "an inspired or
rapturous expression of what some external event has revealed to the inner
self, that which the physical eye cannot see, but what has become clear to the
mind's eye".
I would add to Rabbi
Hirsch’s statement, “what has become clear to the ‘eye of the soul.’” Song
emerges from an overflow of emotion and a resulting interplay of words, rhythm
and melody as well as chords and harmony. Song might seem to emerge “out of
nowhere” and rapidly reach completion. It also might be the final expression of
thoughts and feelings that took days, months or years to come together in just
the right way.
These definitions and
reflections of music apply not only to the songs we sing during worship but to
any music that we prefer and enjoy. Chances are that we like some music based
on the old “American Bandstand” standard of “it’s has a good beat and you can
dance to it!” Otherwise, it may be that we hear an echo of our own souls and
our own lives in the lyrics and melodies to which we listen the most, whether
on the radio, on vintage vinyl records, on CDs, on digital music players or on
our computers.
The rabbis wondered why the women happened
to have timbrels with them by the sea so that they could break into song and
dance, led by Moses’ sister Miriam, as recounted towards the end of Exodus
Chapter 15. They explained that the women had faith that miracles, such as
gaining their freedom, awaited them, so that they would have a reason to celebrate. They were totally ready for something
good to happen!
Hopefully, that is how we
can approach every day of our lives, waiting for something good to happen
rather than expecting the other shoe to drop. With that kind of optimism, we can add a special spirit to our community. Our own
personal song will come from a place of hope and love that will enrich the
melody of the entire community.
And the music that we hear will, in turn, nourish our souls. Throughout every week, may we find the
melodic inspiration we need that will enable us to easily find reasons to
celebrate along the path of life!
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